Montreal Canadiens battle Ottawa Senators in first game post-4 Nations Face-Off

The Montreal Canadiens will open their post 4 Nations Face-Off schedule with a battle at the Canadian Tire Centre against the Ottawa Senators.

These matchups never fail to provide fireworks, and a rambunctious arena - often overpowered by Go Habs Go chants, despite the Canadiens being the visitors. Arber Xhekaj seems to circle every game against the Senators on his calendar with a bright Sharpie. He loves to play against Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, but No. 7 is reportedly not playing.

Xhekaj didn't mince his words about facing the Senators on Saturday night, sending a direct message to Tkachuk. The news that Tkachuk isn't playing took the wind out of the sails of a potential fight between the two. But Xhekaj is excited for the game regardless, and can't wait until the next time he battles Tkachuk.

Being the player that Xhekaj is, after watching the impact that Tkachuk had on the American squad against Canada, and the Swedes and Finns. Canada didn't have a big physical defenseman, who could slow down Tkachuk, but Xhekaj will do that for the Habs. I think he is just champing at the bit to get back on the ice after the break, and he is ready to run through a wall for the team.

Many argue that fightning has no place in hockey, but the Bell Centre crowd was electric at the start of the America-Canada game, when the Tkachuk's fought Brandon Hagel and Sam Bennett. I agree that fighting can get a little stale if it's just to fight, but when there is hatred, it sets the scene for an intense battle. Nobody is going to drop the gloves with Xhekaj tonight, but I expect a physical affair.

The Canadiens have stumbled lately, and the Senators are trying to make a big playoff push. Two teams in different spots, but that never makes the games any less interesting.

Before wrapping up the lead-up to puck drop, the puck dropped and Juraj Slafkovsky played a game that would make Brady Tkachuk blush. So, I am going to shift focus to Slafkovsky's night, and each of the goals instead of just each of the goals. He is playing like a man who was possessed.

Slaf & the Habs

The Canadiens' first tally of the night came at the 02:28 mark of the first period, Brendan Gallagher collected the puck in the slot and fired it five-hole on Linus Ullmark. The tally went unassisted, but it was all because of the grinding style of Gallagher's trio. Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson looked energized and ready for the Senators.

The Canadiens seemed to have discussed pre-game that the entire team would check the Senators hard and heavy, and often. Montreal has challenged the Senators' defence with heavy forechecks, and forced them to move the puck quickly, forcing mistakes. Anderson was a dog on the loose puck and forced a Drake Batherson turnover.

Gallagher and the Canadiens held onto a one-goal lead heading into the first intermission.

Then at the 04:28 mark of the middle frame, Cole Caufield was Johnny on the spot, firing home a rebound in the slot. Caufield netted his 27th of the season, one shy of his career best. David Savard fed Arber Xhekaj a one-timer, and a juicy rebound squeaked out off Ullmark's pad. Savard and Xhekaj drew an assist each on No. 13's goal.

He felt the USA needed some goals, and this goal was a way of saying that without saying it. Next time around I expect he will get an invitation. But until then, Caufield with a chip on his shoulder could be fun - 40 goals? maybe 45?

American defender and Ottawa Senator Jake Sanderson broke the ice with his sixth of the season on the power play. His goal marked a two-goal run for the Senators because just two minutes and 34 seconds later Tim Stutzle scored his 18th goal of the season and second point of the night.

Senators forward Cole Reinhardt took a holding penalty against Gallagher and sent the Canadiens to the power play. Nick Suzuki won the draw, and it kicked back Lane Hutson, who found Patrik Laine in his office. The big Finn made no mistake firing a laser past Ullmark for his 13th of the season, and first in 11 games.

Hutson recorded his 39th assist, and 42nd point of the season, and Suzuki his 38th assist, and 53rd point of the season.

Juraj Slafkovsky has been playing like he has rockets taped to his skates, and hitting everything in sight. He made a statement through the middle of the second period, asserting himself in the middle of the action constantly.

Josh Anderson joined in on the fun, using his speed and shooting mentality to put the Habs up by two goals. Gallagher drew an assist for his second point of the night, and Dvorak drew the other, his 12th of the year.

On his fourth shot of the game, Slafkovsky finally got lucky, using a quick shot to fool the goaltender right between the wickets. The 4 Nations Face-Off and lots of sunlight were just what the doctor ordered. He has come back looking refreshed and ready to turn on the jets. Suzuki recorded his 39th assist of the season, and Jayden Struble his fourth.

The Canadiens have frustrated the Senators through the tail end of the second, and through the first seven minutes of the third. Ottawa hasn't been able to create any speed through the neutral zone, and Stephane Robidas has his troops checking the Senators forwards hard. Ridly Greig, who often plays a secondary role to Brady Tkachuk tried to ignite the CTC crowd, with a fight against No. 20.

Let's just say that didn't go well for Greig, who was manhandled by the man we call Slaf. He is flying high and the boys have taken notice of the 20-year-old's infectious play. So the fight was only a boost to the excitement on the visiting bench.

Tkachuk isn't playing tonight, but Slafkovsky, who is currently an assist short of a Gordie Howe hat trick, has impacted the game somewhat the same way No. 7 has in the past.

The Senators are pressing trying to chew away at their three-goal deficit. But the Canadiens are playing a complete game, and Slafkovsky has been dominant - registering five shots and seven hits through 54 minutes and 16 seconds. The Slovakian has played 14:23, and he has been the best player on the ice.

Montreal ran the clock out, and Samuel Montembeault kept the Senators to just two goals. Slafkovsky played 15:25, registered a goal, a five-minute major for fighting and directed five shots toward the net. Physically, Slafkovsky imposed himself heavily on the Senators, directing eight hits their way.

He played a first star performance, and the confidence that he played with is reflective of great coaching, and mutally determining a standard for Slafkovsky.