Senators Edge Habs 4-3 in Tight Battle of the North

The Ottawa Senators squeaked past the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a chippy affair that came down to the wire. Both clubs traded punches all night, with neither side able to pull away despite multiple lead changes that kept the few thousand fans in attendance on their feet.

Montreal came out buzzing early but couldn't solve Ottawa's netminder when it mattered most. The Habs managed three goals but left at least two quality chances on the table in the third period when they desperately needed an equalizer. Credit to the Senators for clamping down defensively when the game got tight – they bent but didn't break when Montreal pressed late.

Ottawa's fourth goal proved to be the difference, and their ability to win key faceoffs in the defensive zone during the final five minutes sealed it. The Canadiens pushed hard for the tying goal but ran out of runway, ultimately falling just short on the road.

Neither team looked particularly sharp, but the Senators found a way to grab two points in a game that could've gone either way. For Montreal, moral victories don't count in the standings. They'll need to start finishing these tight ones if they want to climb out of the basement.