After being ahead of 12-1 during their two previous pre-season matches, the Ottawa senators closed their exhibition calendar on a high note on Saturday evening, beating the Montreal Canadians 3-11 at the Bell Center.
It was exactly the kind of performance Ottawa needed before the regular season – much more structured and disciplined than the last two games. Finish their chances, however, remains embarrassing while the senses only scored 12 goals on their 187 pre-season shots.
The Linus Ullmark goalkeeper was not strongly tested at the start, but the Canadians supported more over the game, forcing the veteran to offer several key backups. Ullmark finished with 20 stops on 21 shots and was calm throughout.
Unlike Tuesday’s bad business in Quebec – where the teams combined for more than 150 minutes of penalty – the match on Saturday was a much cleaner competition, with only 14 minutes in total in penalties while the two parties focused on hockey and prepared for the new season.
Ottawa opened the score halfway from the first period on a 2 against 1 perfectly executed. Jake Sanderson wore the washer in the Montreal area, waited for Shane Pinto to drive the net and gave it a perfect centering pass that Pinto hit in an open cage for an advance of 1-0.
The senators doubled their advantage at 11:38 of the second when Nick Jensen’s point shot was redirected by David Perron, giving Ottawa an advantage of 2-0. Dylan Cozens had a great chance to do 3-0 on a digital disadvantage escape, but he was refused by Canadian goalkeeper Sam Montembeault.
Montreal pushed stronger after that, generating several chances of quality. Adam Engstrom almost capitalized on a solo rush, easily dancing in front of Thomas Chabot, and Kaida Guhle was put aside twice – once on a 2 against 1 and again of the slit – but Ullmark was standing.
The Canadians finally pierced in the third when Lars Eller managed a washer in front of her own net. Trying to settle it instead of striving, which allowed Caufield to go home for the sole goal in Montreal.
She bought herself later, sealing victory with an empty network to do so 3-1.
None of the two teams could convert to the power game – Ottawa went 0 for 2, while Montreal was 0 for 3. The senators surpassed the Canadians 28-21.
Pinto won the honors of the first star on the game sheet after excellent performance, while Montembeault (26 stops) was appointed second star. Arthur Kaliyev, who helped with the opening aim, won the honors of the third star.
The victory closed the pre-season for the senses (3-3), which now turn their attention to the finals before the deadline on Monday at 5 p.m. The regular season opens Thursday evening in Tampa Bay against Lightning.
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