Ottawa Senators Fall in Overtime to Montreal Canadiens as Goaltending Woes Persist

The Ottawa Senators dropped a heartbreaker on Saturday night, falling 6-5 in overtime to division rival Montreal Canadiens despite a dominant performance in shots and offensive execution. The loss underscores a persistent issue for Ottawa this season: inconsistent goaltending.

The Senators, now 22-19-6, stormed out to a 5-3 lead late in the third period but watched that advantage evaporate in just 65 seconds. Ottawa outshot Montreal 34-19 and received a standout performance from defenseman Jake Sanderson, who recorded a goal and three assists, but the effort was not enough to secure the win.

“Leevi made some good saves,” Sanderson said of goaltender Leevi Merilainen. “But at the end of the day, you’ve got to make more than 10 saves to win a game.”

Merilainen, 23, has carried the starter’s load since Linus Ullmark took a leave of absence on December 28 for personal reasons. Since then, Ottawa is 4-5-1. Even with Ullmark in net earlier this season, the Senators have struggled to find reliable goaltending, leaving key leads vulnerable in crucial moments.

“It’s frustrating, but our team is battling and playing good hockey,” head coach Travis Green said. “Our goalies haven’t been at their best, but the effort from the group is there.”

In response to the ongoing struggles, Ottawa signed 37-year-old veteran James Reimer to a one-way contract for the remainder of the season. Reimer could make his Senators debut as soon as Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings, though Green did not confirm lineups while still reflecting on Saturday’s game.

Despite the loss, Green praised the team’s resilience after falling behind 2-0 early. “Our team can hang their head, or they can be mad. I’d rather us be mad. We played a hell of a hockey game,” Green said. “Sometimes you dominate a game and still lose in overtime, and then you’ve got to come back and play the next one.”

Captain Brady Tkachuk acknowledged the team’s responsibility in supporting the goaltender. “We need to do a better job helping Leevi out,” Tkachuk said. “Box out, make sure he can see the puck. It’s a team sport, and everyone has a role.”

With 10 games remaining before the Olympic break, the Senators face a critical stretch if they hope to climb back into playoff contention. Ottawa sits seven points behind the Buffalo Sabres, who hold the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Senators will need a string of wins combined with improved goaltending to salvage the season.