Five goals allowed in the third period wasn't how the Ottawa Senators expected their game to go two nights ago in their 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Now, it's back to work at home against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Senators and Avalanche have not played against each other since October. With their winning streak on Tuesday, the time for the Senators to start up a new one against one of the best teams in the Western Conference has arrived.
Sens host Avs in Ottawa
The Senators host the Avalanche at Canadian Tire Centre with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Tuesday night once looked promising for the Senators, but then it got ugly against the Canadiens. After Travis Hamonic's first goal scored since December 2023 to give the Senators a 3-2 lead 6:13 into the third period, the Canadiens offense came alive.
The Canadiens scored four goals in a span of 8:39 to win the game. Nick Suzuki delivered a huge powerplay goal with 4:37 remaining in regulation to beat Linus Ullmark to secure the game-winning goal. Ullmark's start was the third start this season in which he allowed in four goals against the Canadiens.
As for the Avalanche, they come into tonight's game with a 41-25-3 record. The Avalanche currently sit in third place in the Central Division with 85 points after falling 2-1 last night in regulation loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 27 goals, 77 assists and 104 points. Cale Makar is second on the team with 79 points.
In the first meeting between the Senators and Avalanche in Denver this season, the Senators fell 5-4. The Senators were down 2-0 to start the third period, then tied the game at two, to then letting the Avalanche score two goals in a 1:32 span. The Senators scored twice with the goaltender pulled, but it was too little too late.
Brady Tkachuk recorded a three-point game and Claude Giroux recorded a two-goal game in the loss in Denver.