RECAP | Canadiens – Senators: Price, Kovalchuk Lead Habs to OT Win

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Rick Stephens
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2020-01-12 005523
(Photo by Marc DesRosiers/USA Today Sports)

Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators Game Recap: Habs Line-up, Score, Statistics, Highlights, Post-game Interviews, NHL Three-Stars

FINAL/OT | Game 46, Away Game 23 | Saturday January 11, 2020
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON

CANADIENS

Montreal

2-1

SENATORS

Ottawa
(Photo by Marc DesRosiers/USA Today Sports)

Canadiens Lineup

Forward lines

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Nick Suzuki

Ilya Kovalchuk – Max Domi – Matthew Peca

Artturi Lehkonen – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Nick Cousins

Ryan Poehling – Nate Thompson –  Dale Weise

Defence pairings

Marco Scandella – Shea Weber

Brett Kulak – Jeff Petry

Victor Mete – Cale Fleury

Goaltenders

Carey Price – Charlie Lindgren

Scratches

Jordan Weal

Injuries

Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin, Joel Armia, Ben Chiarot, Brendan Gallagher

Game Report

The losing streak is over, for now. It came against the 29th place team in the NHL, but it was enthusiastically celebrated by the team. It was the first win for the Canadiens in nine games.

After an evenly-played first period, Montreal was badly outshot 32-9 for the next 40 minutes. The only answer to the Senators was Carey Price. He was outstanding.

With Price performing his heroics and the Canadiens riding a first period power-play goal, what could go wrong? Marc Bergevin could only shake his head in the third period when a puck went off a few skates into the back of the Habs net. Was it happening again?

Montreal took charge in the overtime period. Ilya Kovalchuk went in alone on Marcus Hogberg but was stopped as he tried to go five-hole. Undaunted, Kovalchuk got another chance, late in OT, and fired the game-winner.

This was a much-needed win for the Canadiens thanks to the brilliance of Price and Kovalchuk’s first goal in a Canadiens jersey.

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Artturi Lehkonen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Ilya Kovalchuk

▼  Dale Weise, Max Domi, Matthew Peca

The Numbers

 Game Statistics 
CANADIENS   SENATORS
25 Shots 42
46 Face-off % 54
1-for-4 Power Play 0-for-4
10 Penalty Minutes 10
27 Hits 26
45 Corsi For 44
 Scoring Summary
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 Canadiens (19-20-7) 1 0 0 1 – 2
 Senators (16-22-7) 0 0 1 0 – 1
Scorers Goalies
  • MTL: Suzuki (9)-PPG, Kovalchuk (4)
  • OTT: Batherson (1)
  • MTL: Price (W) 17-16-4
  • OTT: Hogberg (L) 1-2-4

Stars of the Game

 NHL Official Three Stars
NHL3stars
  1. Carey Price  MTL
  2. Ilya Kovalchuk  MTL
  3. Marcus Hogberg  OTT

Watch

 Video Highlights 

What Did They Say?

 Post-game Quotes
Claude Julien  
  • “It was a good feeling for everyone. [Ilya Kovalchuk’s] teammates were happy for him. He’s a guy we wanted to have to help us given the circumstances. On top of his goal, he made nice plays and his shifts were short. I find he fits in well with what we want him to be doing.”
Carey Price
  • “[Ilya Kovalchuk] has been bringing enthusiasm ever since he arrived. He’s definitely earned that. It was a big goal for us. Obviously, things haven’t been rosy around here. But that was a nice breath that’s been breathed into this team.”
Ilya Kovalchuk
  • “I came in here and the guys were so welcoming. I felt like I’ve been here for a long time, but I’ve only been here for a week. I feel better on the ice, too. It’s good to get my first goal as a Hab, especially in OT, but the win is way more important.”
  • “We talked about it before the third period: play to win the game, not to sit back and wait for what they’re going to do. But we took so many penalties. Our PKers did an unbelievable job, and Pricer stood on his head. Finally, we got a win, so it’s good. It’s going to build some momentum and some confidence, for sure.”
 

Quotes courtesy of NHL.com

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