OTTAWA, ON — Tim Stutzle had a goal and two assists, Joonas Korpisalo stopped 21 shots and the Ottawa Senators beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 on Thursday night.
Brady Tkachuk, Rourke Chartier, Vladimir Tarasenko, Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly also scored for Ottawa. The Senators won for the second time in eight games to improve to 16-24-0.
Ottawa responded after interim coach Jacques Martin challenged the team after a 7-4 loss to Colorado on Tuesday night, saying he needed a better effort and more determination from some people.
“I thought it was a really good effort for 60 minutes,” Martin said. “I thought we played on our toes. What I like is, the last couple of games, I like the amount of time we’re spending in the offensive zone. I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
Cole Caufield and Michael Pezzetta scored for Montreal. Coming off a 3-2 victory over New Jersey on Wednesday night, the Canadiens dropped to 19-19-7.
Cayden Primeau made 32 saves for Montreal.
Montreal, playing its ninth back-to-back, has struggled this season on the tail end of those back-to-backs with a 1-8-0 record.
“We’ve had a tough schedule here,” Caufield said. “Playing back-to-back is tough, but at the end of the day the league doesn’t care and we’ve got to be ready for those things.”
Leading 4-1 to open the third, the Senators didn’t take long to make this one look ugly.
After a turnover at center ice, Stutzle broke in and made a nice drop pass to Joseph for his seventh of the season.
“I haven’t been playing the way I want to play,” Stutzle said. “The last three games, I think I’ve got my confidence back. I think the whole group, I mean, we’re getting pucks to the net, we’ve got guys on the goalie and it makes the job easier.”
Kelly added his empty-netter when the Canadiens pulled Primeau with over seven minutes remaining.
Pezzetta made it 6-2 by winning a battle for the puck in front late in the third.
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Linesmen Mark Shewchyk (92) before a face-off during first period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Montreal Canadiens Center Sean Monahan (91) prepares for a face-off during first period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Mike Matheson (8) battles Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) in front of Montreal Canadiens Goalie Cayden Primeau (30) during first period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Mike Matheson (8) battles Ottawa Senators Center Rourke Chartier (49) during first period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Montreal Canadiens Center Nick Suzuki (14) before a face-off against Ottawa Senators Center Ridly Greig (71) during second period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Ottawa Senators Goalie Joonas Korpisalo (70) has to battle to see around Montreal Canadiens Right Wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during second period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Ottawa Senators Center Tim Stutzle (18) celebrates a goal during third period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Parker Kelly (27) takes a shot at the empty net with Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Mike Matheson (8) defending during third period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Montreal Canadiens Goalie Cayden Primeau (30) passes the puck up during third period National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 18: Ottawa Senators Mascot Spartacat with a Sens Win flag after National Hockey League action between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 18, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
