Renee: The prediction was 2-1. The standing was first place. And then the buzzer sounded, and Montreal finished third on the night.
Joel: It wasn't supposed to be this close, Renee. We talked about the defensive depth chart for three straight days. But when you lose seven defensemen to injury, 'supposed to' goes out the window.
Renee: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network. I’m Renee, and this is your daily reaction to the Montreal Canadiens. Joel is here to break down what actually happened last night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Joel: Right. Last night, September 26th. Final score: Ottawa Senators 4, Montreal Canadiens 3. A tough road loss that drops the Habs to 4-1-0, but they’re still sitting first in the Atlantic Division.
Renee: Today we’re reacting to that final horn. We’ll look at Sasha Pastujov’s incredible two-point night despite the loss, how the defensive injuries crippled our neutral-zone structure, and what this means for the rest of the early season. Let’s get into it.
Renee: Okay, let’s start with the box score because there’s a lot to unpack here. We predicted a low-scoring game. We predicted a defensive grind. Instead, we got seven goals between these two teams. What was your first impression when you saw the final line?
Joel: My first impression was disbelief at Sasha Pastujov. The kid is only going to get better. He led the Canadiens with a goal and an assist. In a game where the defensive structure completely fell apart, he was the one guy creating actual chances.
Renee: He’s been quiet in the preseason, but this feels like a statement. He scored against Ottawa? That’s not easy. How did you see his game yesterday?
Joel: He was playing off the wing, I believe, or maybe center. He had that aggressive edge. He didn’t wait for the play to come to him. He went to the dirty areas. That’s what you want from a rookie or a young player stepping up into a bigger role.
Renee: And Cole Caufield? He’s been hot all training camp. Did he have a big night?
Joel: He was there, but he wasn’t the primary driver yesterday. Pastujov took the spotlight. Caufield is always a threat, but against Ottawa’s remaining defensive corps, which was decimated by injuries, the Habs struggled to generate sustained zone time.
Renee: That’s the thing though. When you look at the scoring leaders for Ottawa, Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist. Three points. The veteran presence was alive and well over there.
Joel: Giroux is... Giroux. You cannot take him away. Even with all the injuries on their side, he found space. That’s the problem with our top lines right now. We’re trying to match speed, but we’re missing the physicality to disrupt their entries.
Renee: Let’s talk about that offensive output. Three goals for Montreal. That’s decent. But getting scored on four times? It feels like every time we had momentum, something snapped.
Joel: Exactly. It’s the turnover rate. When you’re shorthanded on defense, you can’t afford to turn the puck over in the neutral zone. Ottawa eats that up. They transition quickly. One mistake, and suddenly you’re defending a 2-on-1.
Renee: We mentioned Kaiden Guhle being out. And Jake Sanderson day-to-day. Those are huge holes. Who was filling those spots for Ottawa, and why were they so effective?
Joel: Ottawa had their own issues. Jorian Donovan, Shane Pinto, Warren Foegele, Artem Zub, Ivan Demidov—all out. So both teams were essentially running out practice squad guys. But Ottawa’s structure held up better in the defensive zone. They blocked shots. They cleared rebounds.
Renee: So it wasn’t just talent; it was execution. Montreal came out flat? Or was it more systemic?
Joel: Systemic. When you don’t have your top-four defensemen, your forwards have to work twice as hard in the trenches. And yesterday, they didn’t quite get there. We lost the faceoff battles too often, which meant we couldn’t set up our forecheck properly.
Renee: Sasha Pastujov was the bright spot. He’s a RW, right? Playing in a key role against a veteran like Giroux. That’s a win for development regardless of the score.
Joel: Absolutely. That’s a win. He showed composure. He didn’t try to be someone he’s not. He played simple, smart hockey. That’s what coaches love to see.
Renee: I’m glad we’re seeing that from him. It gives us hope for the future. But right now, we have to deal with the loss. Let’s pivot to the other side of the ice.
Renee: Defense. Goaltending. Special teams. This is where the game was won and lost. And honestly, Joel, it felt like we were hanging by a thread for fifty minutes.
Joel: Hanging by a thread is exactly right. With Guhle and Sanderson dealing with injuries, the pairings were shuffled constantly. You can’t build chemistry when you’re changing lines every shift based on availability.
Renee: What about the goaltender? Was he given enough support? Or did he make some critical errors?
Joel: The goalie did his job as best he could. He faced a lot of traffic. Ottawa’s shooters were getting through the screen. That’s the issue with our shot-blocking. We weren’t committing to the point of impact. Guys were hesitating.
Renee: Hesitation is fatal in the NHL. Especially against a team like Ottawa, even a battered one. They know how to exploit doubt.
Joel: They do. And look at the penalty kill. If we’re killing penalties, we need to clear the crease. Yesterday, we left too much open space in the slot. That’s where Giroux thrives. He finds those soft spots.
Renee: Did the power play manage to capitalize? We needed those two minutes to swing the momentum.
Joel: It was inefficient. We moved the puck, but we didn’t generate high-danger chances. A lot of perimeter shooting. Low-percentage shots. That’s not going to beat a structured penalty kill, especially one that’s desperate to prove itself.
Renee: So, special teams were a net negative. And even-strength defense was porous. Is this a coaching issue, or just lack of personnel?
Joel: Personnel. Primarily. You can draw up the perfect system, but if you don’t have the skaters to execute it, it falls apart. Nick Suzuki and Phillip Danault are doing everything they can, but they can’t cover for seven missing defensemen alone.
Renee: It’s a brutal situation. And yet, we’re still first in the Atlantic. 4-1-0. How do you view that record after a loss like this?
Joel: It’s encouraging, but fragile. Four wins is a great start. But one loss exposes the cracks. If we keep playing like this—high risk, low reward defensively—we’re going to get caught eventually. We need to tighten up.
Renee: Tighten up. That’s the mantra. No more hesitation. Commit to the hit, commit to the block. Because if we don’t, teams will pick us apart.
Joel: Exactly. And it starts with the bottom six forwards helping out more. Owen Beck, Alex Newhook—they need to win those board battles. Yesterday, they lost too many.
Renee: We’ll see if that changes in the next matchup. Because there is a next matchup. And it’s coming fast.
Renee: Alright, let’s look ahead. The road ahead. What’s next for Montreal? And what do we need to watch for as we head into the regular season proper?
Joel: Well, the schedule is tight. We don’t have another game listed immediately in the data, but the focus shifts to recovery and preparation. The key storylines heading into the 2026-27 season are really about resilience. Can this team bounce back?
Renee: Resilience. Yes. And also, health. Getting Kaiden Guhle and Jake Sanderson back is crucial. Until then, we’re operating on a skeleton crew.
Joel: Until then, we rely on guys like Braden Hache and Adam Engstrom. They need to step up. And on offense, Pastujov needs to keep that hot streak going. He’s showing he belongs.
Renee: I agree. And let’s not forget the broader context. There’s been a lot of news around the league. William Eklund scoring against us earlier, the tier rankings coming out. Where do the Habs fit in?
Joel: We’re slotted as a contender tier, but realistically, we’re a team in transition. The potential is huge. The core is young. But the depth is thin. That’s the reality check.
Renee: Potential vs. Reality. That’s the theme. Before we go, I want to take a quick moment to talk about the show itself. We pour hours into researching every stat, every injury report, every lineup change so you get the most accurate breakdown possible. To keep this daily research and editing running smoothly, please consider supporting us via the link in the episode description. Your contribution helps keep the feed free and reliable for all of us.
Joel: It really does make a difference. We appreciate every listener who chimes in. It keeps the lights on, literally and figuratively.
Renee: Thanks for listening. Now, let’s wrap this up. What’s the takeaway from last night? And what’s your prediction for the next game?
Joel: Takeaway: Defense wins championships, but right now, offense is keeping us afloat. Prediction: We tighten up, win the next one, and stay atop the Atlantic.
Renee: Solid prediction. Let’s hope Joel’s crystal ball is working better than our penalty kill. For Joel, I’m Renee. Thanks for tuning in to the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Habs!