The Montreal Canadiens head to Ottawa for an Atlantic Division rivalry matchup against the Senators, where Montreal’s offensive depth meets Ottawa’s home-ice resilience amid goaltending uncertainties. The Canadiens, third in the Atlantic, aim to rebound from a recent loss with strong road form, while the Senators, eighth in the division, look to build on back-to-back wins led by Brady Tkachuk’s scoring surge. Injuries plague both sides, particularly Montreal’s forward group and Ottawa’s netminder, potentially leading to a cautious, low-scoring affair focused on special teams and defensive structure.
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Puckdrop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET (broadcast on ESPN+, TVAS, CITY, SNE)
Recent Team Forms
Montreal has been resilient, going 6-3-1 with balanced scoring but defensive slips, while Ottawa has surged to 5-4-1, fueled by recent offensive outbursts averaging 4.0 GPG in wins.
Montreal Canadiens Last 10 Games (6-3-1 record, averaging 3.5 GPG scored, 3.0 GPG allowed)
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| 1/15/2026 | @ BUF | L 3-5 | 3 G, 27 SOG |
| 1/13/2026 | @ WSH | L 2-3 (OT) | 2 G, 26 SOG |
| 1/12/2026 | vs VAN | W 6-3 | 6 G, 41 SOG |
| 1/10/2026 | vs DET | L 0-4 | 0 G, 27 SOG |
| 1/8/2026 | vs FLA | W 6-2 | 6 G, 19 SOG |
| 1/7/2026 | vs CGY | W 4-1 | 4 G, 30 SOG |
| 1/4/2026 | @ DAL | W 4-3 | 4 G, 28 SOG |
| 1/3/2026 | @ STL | L 0-2 | 0 G, 27 SOG |
| 1/1/2026 | @ CAR | W 7-5 | 7 G, 28 SOG |
| 12/30/2025 | vs CBJ | W 5-3 | 5 G, 31 SOG |
Ottawa Senators Last 10 Games (5-4-1 record, averaging 3.7 GPG scored, 3.4 GPG allowed)
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| 1/14/2026 | @ NYR | W 8-4 | 8 G, 32 SOG |
| 1/13/2026 | vs VAN | W 2-1 | 2 G, 32 SOG |
| 1/10/2026 | vs FLA | L 2-3 | 2 G, 27 SOG |
| 1/8/2026 | @ COL | L 2-8 | 2 G, 28 SOG |
| 1/7/2026 | @ UTA | L 1-3 | 1 G, 33 SOG |
| 1/5/2026 | vs DET | L 3-5 | 3 G, 37 SOG |
| 1/3/2026 | vs WPG | W 4-2 | 4 G, 27 SOG |
| 1/1/2026 | vs WSH | W 4-3 | 4 G, 32 SOG |
| 12/30/2025 | @ TOR | L 2-3 (OT) | 2 G, 30 SOG |
| 12/28/2025 | vs PIT | W 4-2 | 4 G, 28 SOG |
Injury Report
Injuries will significantly impact both lineups, with Montreal’s forward depth tested and Ottawa potentially without their starter in net.
Montreal Canadiens
Out: Kirby Dach (C, Foot/Lower Body – IR, expected back Jan 17-27), Jake Evans (C, Lower Body – IR, expected back Jan 27), Patrik Laine (RW, Abdomen – IR, expected back late Jan/Feb), Alexander Newhook (C, Ankle/Lower Body – Out)
Ottawa Senators
Out: Linus Ullmark (G, Personal – IR-NR, expected back Jan 18, skating but no timeline)
Key Player Matchups
Without several forwards, Montreal shifts focus to young stars, while Ottawa relies on Tkachuk’s physicality to exploit gaps.
Nick Suzuki (MTL) vs. Tim Stutzle (OTT): Captain vs. rising star; Suzuki’s two-way play (45P) challenges Stutzle’s speed (49P) in a playmaking duel
Cole Caufield (MTL) vs. Brady Tkachuk (OTT): Caufield’s sniping (28G) vs. Tkachuk’s net-front presence (200th goal milestone)
Juraj Slafkovsky (MTL) vs. Jake Sanderson (OTT): Slafkovsky’s size vs. Sanderson’s defense; could decide transition play.
Overall Edge: Ottawa’s home momentum and health tilt it, but Montreal’s depth keeps it competitive.
Series History
Montreal holds the all-time edge, but Ottawa has dominated recently, especially at home.
All-Time Record: Canadiens lead 85-67-5-16 in 173 regular-season games
Recent Meetings: Ottawa won the last on 1/23/2024 (4-1). In the last 5 games: Ottawa 3-2 (average score: OTT 3.4, MTL 2.8)
At Canadian Tire Centre: Senators have won 6 of the last 7 home games vs. Canadiens
Betting Trends
Canadiens: 4-1 ATS in last 5 Saturday games; 13-5 ATS as road favorites of -151 to -200
Senators: 3-2 ATS in last 5; 4-1 ATS in last 5 home games
O/U Trends:
Canadiens: Under in 5-2 in last 7 vs. teams with losing records; Over in 6 of last 9 vs. Ottawa
Senators: Over in 24 of 46 games; Under in 4 of last 7 home games
Game Odds
Montreal Canadiens 6.5
Ottawa Senators – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 16, 2026
