Canadian Teams Morning Review – Jan. 2: Senators, Canadiens, Leafs & Jets
Thursday night’s slate of games for Canadian teams was the sort of evening that leaves you feeling both encouraged and wary at the same time. Across the board, there were comebacks, late-game drama, and individual moments that changed the story entirely. For fans watching from Ottawa to Toronto and Montreal, it was a reminder that the season is far from tidy — highs and lows come in rapid succession, and momentum can be fragile.
One clear thread connecting the three games was resilience. Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto all faced deficits, all found themselves chasing the score, and all leaned on key performers to swing the balance. At the same time, the games underscored how thin margins remain: a post, a rebound not frozen, a brief lapse on coverage, and the story flips. For Canadian teams, every win counts right now — both for confidence and for standing in increasingly tight playoff races.
Yet, even amid the chaos, there were promising signs. Young players stepping up, veterans asserting themselves, and goalies finding the poise to steady teams in crisis all suggested that these clubs have more to offer than their current records might imply. Thursday felt like a microcosm of the season itself: messy, dramatic, but with glimmers of what Canadian hockey can be at its best.
Ottawa Senators 4, Washington Capitals 3
For the Ottawa Senators, Thursday was about climbing back from a skid and finding belief in tight moments. Fabian Zetterlund’s late tally — his tenth of the season — completed a comeback just minutes after Aliaksei Protas had tied it for Washington. That goal wasn’t just the decider; it was a statement that Ottawa can find ways to finish strong, even when games tilt early against them.
Leevi Merilainen deserves attention here. He made 26 saves in a game where the Capitals jumped out 2-0, holding the Senators at a distance until the offence could catch up. The early lead by Washington, with markers from Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome, could have demoralized Ottawa, but Merilainen’s composure gave the team time to mount a late push. Ridly Greig’s deflection late in the second set the stage, and David Perron’s early third-period goal gave Ottawa its first lead — the sort of shift that changes the tone of the night.
Beyond the scoreline, the game reinforced that Ottawa’s identity under pressure is emerging. Jake Sanderson reached 20 assists, a first in franchise history for a defenceman through his first four seasons — small milestones that hint at steady, quiet progress even in the thick of tight contests. Ottawa showed that resilience isn’t always about a dominant performance; sometimes it’s about hanging in until the right moment comes.
Montreal Canadiens 7, Carolina Hurricanes 5
Montreal’s outing against Carolina was a study in rapid shifts of momentum. Trailing by two early in the second, the Canadiens leaned on quick strikes to reclaim control. Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson scored 23 seconds apart, swinging the scoreboard and signalling a broader team-wide push. That burst was the defining moment, a short window where Montreal’s urgency overtook Carolina’s rhythm.
Sammy Blais anchored the night for Montreal, not just with a goal and assist, but in how he consistently found and created space. Blais, alongside Nick Suzuki, Oliver Kapanen, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson, made the comeback possible. While Carolina’s Sebastian Aho racked up five points, the Hurricanes’ inability to sustain pressure beyond brief flurries exposed vulnerabilities, and Montreal capitalized on them efficiently. Jakub Dobes’ 20 saves weren’t flashy, but they were steady enough to let the offence take over.
The broader takeaway for the Canadiens is that they are increasingly learning to control the pace of games despite deficits. Quick, opportunistic responses to Carolina’s early bursts highlight both skill and temperament, and a five-game point streak suggests that when Montreal is firing on multiple cylinders, they can impose themselves even on high-powered opposition.
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Winnipeg Jets 5
Toronto’s contest with Winnipeg was another late-night drama, this time anchored by Auston Matthews’ 14th career hat trick and an assist. The Maple Leafs squandered a 4-1 lead for Winnipeg before staging a comeback capped by Matthews’ clinching goal at 4:22 in the third. Beyond the highlight-reel finish, the game was about persistence under pressure, and Toronto’s depth responding when its top-line leader carried the load.
Dennis Hildeby deserves a mention as well. Called in early after Joseph Woll allowed four goals, the backup made 22 saves and stabilized the team. It was his calm that let Matthews’ heroics count for more — a reminder that goaltending isn’t only about flashy stops, but the ability to allow a team to regain its rhythm. Troy Stecher’s tying goal after Winnipeg briefly took the lead illustrates Toronto’s willingness to fight through adversity, a recurring theme for the club this season.
Matthews himself moved within one goal of Mats Sundin’s franchise record, and set a new mark for home goals with 232. That milestone underscores both individual excellence and the way one player can tilt outcomes when games are in flux. With injuries to William Nylander, Dakota Joshua, and Chris Tanev, Toronto relied on resolve and opportunism, not just talent.
What Comes Next for Canadian Teams
Thursday’s slate offered a mix of encouragement and caution. Ottawa is proving it can hang tough in tight spots, Montreal is learning to respond quickly under pressure, and Toronto remains a team capable of stunning comebacks even amid injury gaps. Yet, the underlying lesson is that none of these clubs can take consistency for granted.
For the standings, every point matters. Ottawa’s late-game win helps them stabilize, Montreal’s victory extends their streak, and Toronto continues to climb up the standings. If the Canadian teams can build on nights like this, they can translate flashes of resilience into a sustainable push as the playoff race tightens.