The Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, resulting in another chaotic preseason matchup filled with injuries, fights, goals, and plenty of drama.
Despite the Canadiens playing better overall, Ottawa claimed a 4-3 victory thanks to Linus Ullmark’s outstanding performance.
There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump into the highlights!
Discussing Montreal Canadiens Roster Cuts
Before delving into the events of the game, I want to highlight the performance of Alex Barre-Boulet. While he may not be a well-known name among Canadiens prospects, it’s hard to deny that he has consistently outperformed many of his competitors for the remaining roster spots, including Oliver Kapanen, who has notably struggled in the last two games.
I’m not claiming that Barre-Boulet is a transformative player or that Kapanen won’t eventually outperform him, but for the time being, it makes sense to send Kapanen back to the SHL while Barre-Boulet takes on the lesser ice time that comes with securing a role in Montreal. However, it’s important to note that discussing player performance while the game is still ongoing carries some risk; occasionally, you might look foolish if you criticize a player during a rough stretch, only for them to score late in the contest.
On another note, Kapanen did score a late goal to narrow the Senators’ lead to one. Additionally, I believe Jayden Struble has been the top defenseman in the lineup who didn’t play for Boston University last season. If we’re going by merit, Struble has certainly earned his place. Although he faced challenges midway through his rookie season, it’s important to remember how demanding an AHL/NHL season can be compared to competing in the NCAA; athletes often need time to adapt to the rigors of professional hockey. Regardless of where Struble ends up at the beginning of the season, his skill set and remarkable core strength put him in a solid position to become a valuable asset for the team soon. He just needs a bit more experience to acclimate to the pace of professional play, but based on his preseason performance, he could gain that experience in the NHL.
Now onto the actual goal-scoring highlights: Jake Evans kicked off the scoring on Tuesday, largely thanks to Brendan Gallagher, who forced a giveaway by Tyler Yakemchuk. Evans’ place in the lineup seems secure for the moment, though he’s certainly aware of the many prospects eager to take over his position. With that in mind, he was one of the standout forwards for the Canadiens against the Senators.
In terms of Habs-Senators antics, Greig set a rough tone by hitting Dach late, but concerns about Dach’s injury were unfounded, as he quickly returned to the game, easing anxiety among Montreal fans. Greig exaggerated a penalty call against Dach later on (which was justified), but one can’t help but admire his commitment to his approach, likening it to a tipsy raccoon rummaging through trash.
