(Ottawa) Alex DeBrincat completed a brace 59 seconds into overtime on Saturday, giving the Ottawa Senators a 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Posted at 10:21 p.m.
Updated at 10:37 p.m.
Claude Giroux faked a shot before returning to the top of the slot to DeBrincat, who scored between the pads of Cayden Primeau. Ottawa had momentum as Rem Pitlick was penalized for hooking, with 53.9 seconds left in the third period.
Dominated 34-15 on shots, the Habs remain winless in four exhibition games.
“We’re trying to get into a rhythm so even though it’s a preseason game, it’s a frustrating result,” said Justin Barron, scorer of the Canadiens’ fourth goal.
Shane Pinto also scored twice, while the Senators’ other goal came from Mathieu Joseph.
Martin St-Louis’ group cue came from Pitlick, Barron and Jake Evans (twice). Primeau blocked 29 shots.
“A high percentage of our shots are scoring chances but that would be the fun not always looking for the perfect game, said St-Louis. It would be nice to have a higher volume of shots. »
Mads Sogaard made 11 saves and Antoine Bibeau stopped a shot for the Senators, who will be at the Bell Center on Tuesday.
The CH will continue its preparatory games on Monday, hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ottawa had three goals on five powerplays.
“We try to teach how to play shorthanded and it’s not always easy,” said St-Louis. We will correct that and we will continue to improve at this level. »
Evans gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 16:54 in the first period, completing a 2-0 with Pitlick. He scored again with 58.5 seconds left in that engagement, redirecting a lob off Mike Matheson’s point.
The Senators’ Roby Jarventie hooked in the third minute of the game, but 20 seconds into the penalty, Matheson held to block a Tyler Motte net charge. The latter had stolen the disc from Jonathan Drouin.
Otto Leskinen led a fine exit from the zone and it resulted in a chance for the Habs, but the young Danish goalkeeper stopped a dangerous shot from Evans.
After coming close to putting his people in trouble with an uncertain pass in his area, Owen Beck touched the post while trying to complete a Drouin throw-in. Shortly after, Beck unleashed a good shot in a sequence that began with a strong drop from Kaiden Guhle.
Between the two streaks, Erik Brannstrom’s maestro puck handling provided the Swede with a scoring chance.
In the second period, DeBrincat closed the gap to 7:41, after missing two shots from close range in the first six minutes of play. He scored with a quick shot from the right circle, after Brannstrom extended the stick to push the disc in its direction.
Mitchell Stephens of the Canadiens was stopped on a breakaway midway through the period.
Pitlick took the Montreal club’s cushion to 3-1 at 14:49 in the second period. He hit the target with a one-timer, on a pass from Jesse Ylonen.
Shortly before, Senators forward Ridly Greig blocked a shot for the third time in the game.
Only 1:06 after Pitlick’s goal, Pinto reduced the margin to just one goal, following a face-off won by Ottawa.
Barron responded at 10:33 in the third period with a wrist shot from the left circle.
The Senators made things worse again — just 20 seconds later. Motte took advantage of a turnover to pass at the left mouthpiece to Joseph, who beat Primeau.
“It’s disappointing that we didn’t take advantage of Justin’s goal to tighten the noose,” observed Pitlick.
Pinto then brought everyone back to square one at 2:40 p.m., while Matheson was in jail for delaying the game.
He completed a nice three-way trade with Claude Giroux and Derick Brassard.