The Ottawa Senators suffered a gut-wrenching defeat on Saturday night, letting a two-goal lead slip away in the final minutes before falling 6-5 in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens at the Canadian Tire Centre.
A Celebration Spoiled by a Crushing Collapse
The game, meant to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the arena's opening, turned sour for the home team. Despite holding a 5-3 lead late in the third period, the Senators watched their advantage evaporate in just 65 seconds. Juraj Slavkovsky cut the deficit to one with 4:24 remaining, and Alex Carrier tied the game at 16:41, sending the contest to overtime.
In the extra frame, Montreal's Cole Caufield sealed the comeback victory for the visitors, capping a rally that left the Senators with only a single point from a game they had firmly in hand. The loss was particularly stinging for a team fighting for a playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference.
Merilainen Struggles as Sanderson Shines
Ottawa goaltender Leevi Merilainen, making his 10th consecutive start, had a difficult night, allowing six goals on the evening. His counterpart, Samuel Montembeault of the Canadiens, secured the win despite the five goals against.
On a positive note for Ottawa, defenseman Jake Sanderson had a standout performance, recording a four-point night. His goal at 7:36 of the third period had initially extended Ottawa's lead to 5-3. David Perron, Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and Dylan Cozens also found the back of the net for the Senators.
Playoff Hopes Take a Hit
The defeat was a significant blow to Ottawa's postseason aspirations. Heading into the game on January 17, 2026, the Senators were already six points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild-card position. The team now faces the daunting task of playing at a better than .600 pace over their final 36 games to have a realistic shot at the playoffs for a second consecutive spring.
The atmosphere in the building added to the disappointment for Ottawa fans. A sellout crowd of 18,020 was heavily populated by supporters of the rival Canadiens, who made their presence felt throughout the night.
The Senators had little time to dwell on the loss, as they were scheduled to face the Detroit Red Wings on the road the following night. Veteran goalie James Reimer was expected to get the start in Detroit, giving Merilainen a much-needed break.
