Senators Show Flash, Falter Late in OT Loss to Canadiens - and Goaltending Remains the Story
OTTAWA - For a few electric moments on Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators looked like a team ready to flip the script. The Canadian Tire Centre may have felt like enemy territory, packed with red-clad Montreal Canadiens fans, but Tim Stützle gave the home crowd something to roar about - and it was a beauty.
Down two early, Stützle pulled off a highlight-reel, between-the-legs move and roofed it past Canadiens netminder Sam Montembeault. That goal didn’t just tie the game - it lit the building on fire.
But the celebration barely lasted. Just 90 seconds later, Josh Anderson responded with a long-range shot that beat Leevi Meriläinen clean, and the Canadiens were back in front.
From there, it was a rollercoaster that ended in familiar territory for Ottawa: a 6-5 overtime loss.
And that’s been the story of the Senators’ season - flashes of brilliance, undone by inconsistency in net.
Defensive Structure? Check.
Goaltending? Not So Much.
Statistically, this is a team that’s doing a lot right. They’re limiting shots better than almost anyone in the league - just over 25 per game, third-best behind only Carolina and Vegas. Whether you’re diving into expected goals metrics or watching with the eye test, Ottawa’s defensive game has taken a step forward.
But that margin of error is razor-thin when your goaltending can’t match the effort in front of it. And right now, that’s the Senators’ biggest problem.
Saturday marked the 10th straight start for Meriläinen, who’s been carrying the load since Linus Ullmark stepped away from the team for personal reasons in late December. But this one was rough. Meriläinen gave up six goals on just 19 shots - a .684 save percentage that tells the story all too clearly.
Despite the struggles in net, Ottawa clawed back into the game. Dylan Cozens, David Perron, and Jake Sanderson helped the Sens reclaim the lead in the second and third periods.
But things unraveled late. With under five minutes to play, Meriläinen and the Senators couldn’t hold the line.
Goals from Juraj Slafkovský and Alexandre Carrier tied it up, and Cole Caufield sealed it in overtime.
“You’ve Got to Make More Than 10 Saves”
Jake Sanderson, who had a monster night with a goal and four points, didn’t sugarcoat it.
“I think Leevi made some good saves,” Sanderson said. “But I think, at the end of the day, you’ve got to make more than 10 saves to win a game.”
Head coach Travis Green echoed the frustration, though he tried to balance it with support.
“It’s a little bit frustrating,” Green admitted. “But I give our team a lot of credit.
They’re playing good hockey. Our goalies haven’t been at their best, we know that.
Our team’s still bringing it.”
Still, Green didn’t shy away from the reality: “It’s hard to give him a pass. I’m sure he’d like to have one or two back. I feel bad for him.”
Leadership Stands Behind Meriläinen - But Knows the Clock Is Ticking
Captain Brady Tkachuk took the team-first approach in his postgame comments, refusing to pin the loss on Meriläinen.
“I think, as a group, we need to do a better job in those moments helping Leevi out,” Tkachuk said. “Box out where he could see the puck.
We’ve just got to do our job. That’s why it’s a team sport, and everybody’s got a part in it.
It’s not just on one guy.”
Stützle was even more direct in defending his goalie.
“I don’t even know why we’re talking about this,” he said. “Leevi’s been playing great.
He’s been playing a lot of hockey. It’s always every time somebody scores, everybody blames the goalie.
But we have his back. We’ve got to play better in front of him and don’t give up high-danger scoring chances.”
That support matters, but the Senators know what’s holding them back. The frustration was written all over their faces after the loss, and it’s clear that if they want to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement, the situation in net has to stabilize - fast.
Help on the Horizon?
There could be changes coming, possibly as soon as Sunday.
Veteran James Reimer, recently signed and fresh off a stint with Ottawa’s AHL affiliate in Belleville, is waiting in the wings. He hasn’t played an NHL game in 276 days, but he may get the call in Detroit against the Red Wings.
And then there’s Ullmark. He’s skated with the team and may be close to rejoining the active roster.
If he’s ready, the Senators could send Meriläinen back to the minors - he’s waiver-exempt and, frankly, in need of a reset. Ten straight starts, including two back-to-back sets in one week, is a heavy load for any young goaltender.
“He’s going to have an amazing, long career ahead of him,” said Tkachuk. “He’s an unbelievable goalie and an unbelievable person.”
Still, even when Ullmark returns, the pressure doesn’t let up. He’ll need to regain the sharp form he showed in December - before the break - because despite the team’s improved defensive play, his goals saved above expected is still the second-worst in the league, per MoneyPuck.
One More Shot This Weekend
The Senators have a chance to salvage something from the weekend with a win over Detroit. Taking three out of four points would be a big step toward staying in the playoff race - but only if the goaltending holds up.
“I’m just happy we’re playing tomorrow,” Tkachuk said. “We can reset and focus on that.”
For now, that’s the mindset. Reset.
Refocus. And hope that whoever’s in net can finally give this team the stability it’s been fighting so hard to earn.