Canadiens hand Senators seventh straight loss
MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens won their third consecutive game with a 2-1 victory against Ottawa at Bell Centre on Wednesday, extending the Senators' losing streak to seven games.
Jonathan Drouin, on a penalty shot, and Phillip Danault scored for the Canadiens (11-12-3) and Carey Price made 27 saves. Price is 3-0-0 with two goals allowed since missing 10 games with a lower-body injury.
Mark Stone scored for the Senators (8-9-6) and Mike Condon made 29 saves as Ottawa started a seven-game, 14-day road trip. The Senators offensive struggles continued as they have scored nine goals during their slide.
Second-period goals by Drouin and Danault put the Canadiens ahead 2-1. Drouin was awarded the penalty shot when he got behind Ottawa defenseman Cody Ceci and Ceci hooked him. On the penalty shot, Drouin skated in on Condon and scored on a precise shot off the left post at 2:56.
Danault gave the Canadiens the lead at 5:14 of the second period after some soft defensive coverage down low by the Senators. Ceci and forward Derick Brassard lost a battle for the puck behind the net and Montreal forward Andrew Shaw passed the puck out to Danault, who was charging to the net. He one-timed the pass for his fourth goal of the season.
Stone gave the Senators a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 4:36 of the first period. Stone, tied for fourth in the NHL in takeaways with 27 entering the game, knocked down a pass by Montreal's Alex Galchenyuk inside the Ottawa blue line. Stone beat defenseman Jeff Petry to the other end of the ice, protecting the puck and beating Price with a move to the backhand.
The Senators power play was 0 for 3 and is 1 for 26 during the losing streak.
NOTES: Canadiens D David Schlemko made his Habs debut after missing the first 25 games of the season following hand surgery. Schlemko was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in June for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. ... Montreal D Shea Weber missed his fifth game with a lower-body injury. ... Rookie D Victor Mete and D Brandon Davidson were scratches for the Canadiens. It was the second time in four games the 19-year-old Mete was scratched. He played a season-low 6:02 on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. ... The Senators scratched rookie D Thomas Chabot. ... Ottawa D Chris Wideman is expected to meet with doctors to see if his injured hamstring will require surgery, according to Sportsnet. He missed his sixth game Wednesday.