Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg keeps an eye out for the loose puck as defenceman Nikita Zaitsev and Montreal Canadiens centre Rem Pitlick slide into the crease during second period NHL action, Saturday, January 28, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – Claude Giroux scored twice and added an assist as the Ottawa Senators beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-0 Saturday night.
With the win the Senators (23-23-3) are riding a three-game winning streak.
Ottawa was coming off a 6-2 win over Toronto on Friday night. The Senators are now 6-2-0 in their last eight at home and are a perfect 24-for-24 on the penalty kill through that span.
Alex DeBrincat, Mathieu Joseph and Derick Brassard also scored for Ottawa, while Anton Forsberg was solid making 28 saves.
Sam Montembeault stopped 32 shots for the Canadiens (20-26-4). Montreal is now 0-3-2 in its last five games.
This was the second of four meetings between the two teams with the Senators leading the series 2-0.
Trailing 3-0 the Canadiens looked to get back in the game, but were unable to beat Forsberg despite having two power-play opportunities. Joseph added an empty-net goal with just over one minute in regulation leading the numerous Montreal fans on hand to head for the exit and Brassard made it 5-0.
Scoreless after the first period the Senators took control in the second scoring three unanswered goals.
DeBrincat picked up his 16th of the season scoring on a 2-on-1 to open the scoring just 22 seconds into the period.
Giroux then scored a pair of goals, the first coming off a great feed from rookie Ridly Greig on the power play. He then made it 3-0 banking a shot off Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj.
INTERESTING FACT
Owen Beck, an 18-year-old centre from Port Hope, Ont., made his NHL debut after being recalled from the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League on an emergency basis Friday. Beck was given the solo rookie lap in warm-up.
NOTES
Ottawa LW Tyler Motte returned to the lineup after missing the last 15 games. LW Austin Watson was a healthy scratch. Montreal D Chris Wideman was a healthy scratch for the Canadiens with Jonathan Kovacevic taking his place.
UP NEXT
The Senators and Canadiens will meet again Tuesday night in Montreal.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2023.
