Second defeat in less than a week against the Senators

The last two games have been difficult for the Canadiens. They lost by four to the Senators and by five to the Bruins.

Tonight, Montreal faced the Senators again.

Here is Martin St-Louis’ line-up:

Tonight’s lineup

Tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/TTjXwWdil2

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 23, 2024

And the visitors’:

Sens lines from the warmup in Montreal.

Tkachuk-Norris-Giroux
Greig-Stützle-Batherson
Joseph-Pinto-Tarasenko
Kelly-Chartier-MacEwen
Kubalik-Kastelic

Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Chychrun
Brannstrom-JBD

– TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) January 23, 2024

First things first: it was a very tough game.

And from the start of the match, we knew it was going to be a long night when we saw Jake Allen playing acrobat.

Ridly Greig makes Jake Allen look bad and it’s Michael Andlauer who’s happy! pic.twitter.com/YZghWVCRkl

– RDS (@RDSca) January 24, 2024

Ottawa then doubled their lead 41 seconds later.

Jake Sanderson scored the seventh goal of his season.

Jake Sanderson rifles one cleanly past Allen! #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/qCyw2ouQfj

– Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) January 24, 2024

I don’t know what the Habs players were doing on this….

The Habs had scoring chances after that, but they weren’t able to close the gap, not even on the power play… against the 31st shorthanded in the league.

By the way, Joshua Roy and Arber Xhekaj were spotted on the second wave of the power play.

PP2: Anderson-Gallagher-Pearson-Roy-Xhekaj

– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) January 24, 2024

Midway through the second period, Shane Pinto scored his first goal of the season.

Remember that he was suspended for the first half of the season and was playing in his second game this season.

Pinto scores in his first game back from suspension.

The Habs are being run out of their own barn by the Senators, and there’s no travel excuse to throw at the lack of effort. pic.twitter.com/0JuSXAoPnr

– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 24, 2024

With a few minutes left in the game, Montreal finally woke up.

On his return to action, Johnathan Kovacevic scored from the blue line. As everyone predicted, he’s now the team’s second-highest scorer among defensemen.

Cole Caufield picked up an assist and extended his streak of games with at least one point to seven.

Fresh off a three-game trip to the press box, Johnathan Kovacevic puts the Habs on the board. His sixth goal this season. Caufield gets the assist. pic.twitter.com/Mm4eAPpbxm

– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 24, 2024

But it was too little too late.

Final score: 4-1 Ottawa, who completed the scoring in an empty net. Eighth consecutive victory for the Sens over the Tricolore.

Montreal’s next game is Thursday night at the Bell Centre, against Patrick Roy’s Islanders.

Prolongation

– Cole Caufield was the Canadiens’ best player. He had several scoring chances and could well have scored four goals.

– Yes, he did.

Habs hockey experience pic.twitter.com/tEajfl7RjX

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) January 24, 2024

– A 500th game for Josh Anderson.

5⃣0⃣0⃣ games. Bravo, Josh!

Congrats, Andy! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ydWbc2agQ4

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 24, 2024

– He had a front row seat.

Nobody will enjoy this Ottawa win over #Habs more than new Senators owner Michael Andlauer, who has been sitting in a first-row corner seat at Bell Centre #HabsIO: https://t.co/Lvrnyim6Tc

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 24, 2024

– Good pinch by Jayden Struble.

Good pinch by Struble. Anderson misses the target. pic.twitter.com/zn5bTaaqHg

– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 24, 2024

– Lots of people on site.

There are a lot of scouts in Bell Centre press box tonight for #Habs vs. Senators. Needed two pages #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/9oU2S2bkop

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 23, 2024

– Now that’s indiscipline.