The Ottawa Senators have quickly turned the opening week of the NHL season into a statement. Sitting at 4-1-0, Ottawa heads into Monday night with confidence, strong goaltending, and a top-line center who has already become one of the league’s most productive players.
The next challenge arrives at Prudential Center, where the Senators will meet a New Jersey Devils team fresh from a convincing win over Vancouver. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. ET on Monday, October 12, in Newark, New Jersey.
Ottawa’s early success has been built around timely offense and reliable play in the crease. New Jersey, meanwhile, will try to use its home-ice advantage and dangerous power play to disrupt the Senators’ momentum.
Why Ottawa Has Become an Early Canadian Hockey Storyline
A five-game sample cannot predict how an entire season will unfold, but Ottawa has supplied plenty of reasons for optimism. The Senators have won four of their first five games and have shown that their leading players can deliver when the margin for error is small.
The latest example came Saturday, when Ottawa defeated Nashville 3-2 in a shootout. That result extended the club’s strong opening stretch and set up an appealing road test against a New Jersey roster loaded with offensive talent.
Another victory would move Ottawa to 5-1-0 and give the Senators an even stronger foundation in the Atlantic Division. More importantly, a win in Newark would show that the club can handle a demanding opponent away from home rather than simply benefiting from a favorable opening schedule.
Tim Stützle Is Driving the Senators’ Attack
Tim Stützle has been the central figure in Ottawa’s excellent start. The German forward has collected four goals and four assists for eight points in five games, putting him at the center of nearly every discussion about the Senators’ offense.
- Four goals through five games
- Four assists to lead Ottawa’s playmaking effort
- Eight total points during the opening stretch
- One power-play goal among his early tallies
Stützle’s value extends beyond the box score. His acceleration allows him to attack through the neutral zone, while his vision helps him find passing lanes before opposing defenses can close them. When defenders back away, he can create room for a shot; when they step forward, he can use his hands and speed to open the ice for teammates.
He also contributed a power-play goal and an assist in Saturday’s win over Nashville. New Jersey will need to limit his time with the puck, especially near the slot and along the offensive-zone blue line, where a small opening can quickly become a scoring chance.
Ullmark Gives Ottawa Room to Play Aggressively
Ottawa’s offense has drawn most of the attention, but Linus Ullmark has been just as important to the team’s record. The goaltender is 4-0-0 in his first four starts and has allowed only five goals during that span.
His early numbers are exceptional: a 1.34 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Those figures give Ottawa a major advantage in a game that could be decided by one or two crucial saves.
Strong goaltending also permits a team to remain composed when a road opponent creates pressure. If the Devils generate extended shifts or earn quality chances on the power play, Ullmark’s ability to keep the game close could prevent New Jersey from taking control.
New Jersey’s Top Players Just Found Their Rhythm
The Devils enter the matchup with a record of 2-2-0, but their latest performance showed why they remain a difficult opponent. New Jersey defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Saturday at Prudential Center, producing its most complete performance of the young season.
Captain Nico Hischier led the way with two goals and one assist. His first goal marked the 200th of his NHL career, adding a personal milestone to an already impressive night. Jesper Bratt scored once and assisted on another goal, while Jack Hughes finished with two assists.
The result demonstrated how quickly New Jersey can turn offensive pressure into a multi-goal lead. Hischier, Bratt, and Hughes each possess the skill to create chances off the rush, and their combined impact becomes even more dangerous when Ottawa gives them extra space.
Special Teams Could Decide the Result
The most urgent concern for Ottawa may be discipline. New Jersey converted on three of four power-play opportunities against Vancouver, with Hischier scoring twice and Bratt adding another man-advantage goal.
Ottawa cannot afford to make a habit of defending penalty kills against New Jersey’s top unit. Repeated opportunities would place pressure on the Senators’ defensive structure and could neutralize their even-strength advantages.
- Ottawa must avoid unnecessary penalties in the offensive and neutral zones.
- New Jersey’s penalty killers will be tested by Stützle’s creativity and Ottawa’s puck movement.
- Faceoffs and clean entries may determine how often each power play can establish formation.
- Ullmark’s ability to handle screens and cross-ice passes will be especially important.
The Devils have already shown that their power play can change a game quickly. Ottawa’s best response is to stay disciplined, pressure puck carriers without overcommitting, and prevent New Jersey from setting up its preferred passing lanes.
Two Centers Could Shape Monday’s Contest
The matchup between Stützle and Hischier offers the clearest individual storyline. Stützle enters the game as Ottawa’s leading offensive force, while Hischier is coming off a three-point performance and a milestone night.
Both centers influence more than the scoreboard. They take important shifts, contribute on special teams, and can transform a routine possession into a dangerous attack. Stützle brings explosive speed and creative puck handling; Hischier combines responsible two-way play with the finishing ability to punish defensive mistakes.
The center who controls the middle of the ice could give his team a significant advantage. If Stützle consistently creates speed through the neutral zone, Ottawa may force New Jersey to defend on its heels. If Hischier and the Devils win the possession battle, the home team could spend long stretches attacking around the Senators’ net.
Senators vs. Devils Game Details
Matchup: Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils
Date: Monday, October 12, 2026
Start time: 7:08 p.m. ET
Venue: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Ottawa record: 4-1-0
New Jersey record: 2-2-0
Ottawa has the better record and the hotter leading scorer, while New Jersey owns home ice and enters with a power play that just produced three goals in one game. The Senators will need Stützle to keep creating, Ullmark to remain sharp, and the entire lineup to stay disciplined.
For Canadian hockey fans, the central question is whether Ottawa’s impressive opening burst can survive its toughest test yet. A win in Newark would turn a promising start into an increasingly convincing statement.
