Brady Tkachuk finally found the back of the net for the first time this season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Ottawa Senators. His goal helped spark a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night - a much-needed road statement for a Senators squad trying to find its rhythm.
For Montreal, the night told a familiar story: early promise, followed by defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities. Samuel Montembeault, fresh off a solid showing in Vegas, struggled to repeat that performance.
He faced 29 shots and let in five, but it wasn’t all on him. Too often, Ottawa skaters were allowed to glide into high-danger areas with little resistance.
Montembeault was left trying to clean up messes that kept piling up in front of him - and this time, he couldn’t.
The Canadiens’ defensive pairings had a rough outing, particularly Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble, who each finished the game at minus-3. Even Jake Evans - typically a steady presence - found himself stapled to the bench for most of the third period. He logged just 9:22 of ice time, his lowest of the season, after also going minus-3.
And yet, things actually started on the right foot for the Habs. They opened the scoring on the power play, with Juraj Slafkovsky netting his eighth of the season. It was a well-executed play, set up by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki - a reminder of what Montreal’s top line can do when it’s clicking.
But the celebration didn’t last long.
Just 24 seconds later, Ottawa answered. Fabian Zetterlund unloaded a one-timer from distance that beat Montembeault clean. It was only the Senators’ second shot of the game, but it set the tone for what would become a frustrating night for the home team.
From that point on, Ottawa took control. The Senators played with more pace, more structure, and more finish.
Tkachuk’s goal wasn’t just a personal milestone - it was a momentum-shifter. For a player known for his physical presence and leadership, finally getting on the scoresheet could open the floodgates moving forward.
For Montreal, the loss underscores some of the same issues that have haunted them all season - defensive lapses, inconsistent goaltending, and a lack of pushback when things start to unravel. There are flashes of what this team could be, but until they tighten up in their own zone and get more consistent performances across the board, those flashes will remain just that.
As for Ottawa, this win - and Tkachuk’s breakthrough - might be exactly what they needed to start building some momentum on this road swing.