Montreal Canadiens Fall Short of Playoff Clinch in 5-2 Loss to Senators

The Ottawa Senators spoiled Montreal’s chance to secure a playoff berth Friday night, defeating the Canadiens 5-2 in a heated matchup at Canadian Tire Centre. Shane Pinto led the charge with two goals, while Ridly Greig, Drake Batherson, and Dylan Cozens also scored for the Senators, who extended their wild-card lead over Montreal to five points.

Game Breakdown Montreal, riding a six-game win streak, needed a regulation victory to clinch their first postseason appearance since 2021. Instead, they stumbled early, conceding two goals in the first four minutes—Pinto’s opener just 28 seconds in and Cozens’ rebound finish. Greig’s second-period tally made it 3-0 before Christian Dvorak and Nick Suzuki briefly narrowed the gap. Ottawa’s defense stifled the Habs in the third, allowing just four shots, and Pinto sealed the win with an empty-netter.

Key Moments

• Physical Play: The game had playoff intensity, featuring big hits, scrums, and a fight between Ottawa’s Angus Croshank and Montreal’s Michael Pezzetta.
• Stützle-Gallagher Rivalry: Tim Stützle and Brendan Gallagher reignited their feud, with Gallagher unsuccessfully baiting Stützle into a fight.
• Defensive Struggles: Montreal’s slow start and inability to recover underscored their reliance on momentum, which Ottawa disrupted early.

Playoff Implications Despite the loss, Montreal (39-31-9) retains the East’s second wild card, six points ahead of Columbus and New York. Their next chance to clinch comes Saturday in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs will be without top-pairing defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (day-to-day). A regulation win or a Blue Jackets loss would secure Montreal’s spot.

Looking Ahead The Canadiens’ young core—led by Suzuki (86 points) and Calder Trophy contender Lane Hutson—has fueled their resurgence. With prospect Ivan Demidov arriving from the KHL, Montreal could be a dangerous playoff dark horse if they close the deal. Meanwhile, Ottawa (43-30-6) eyes home-ice advantage, hosting Philadelphia on Sunday.

Stat of the Night: Jake Sanderson notched his 100th NHL assist on Greig’s goal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.