Tuesday night’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators at the Videotron Centre wasn’t just about offensive fireworks. It reignited old tensions, with multiple fights and questionable hits that forced Montreal’s players to respond with grit and solidarity.
From the opening period, the ice turned into a battleground. No fewer than four fights broke out, with brothers Arber and Florian Xhekaj stepping up to defend their teammates. The most controversial moment came when Nick Cousins attempted to injure Ivan Demidov with cheap shots, resulting in NHL sanctions.
Suzuki: “We take care of each other out there” In the midst of this electric atmosphere, captain Nick Suzuki’s post-game comments stood out:
“It was a fun game to watch. It’s nice to see the team stick up for one another. It really showed that we don’t take any of that stuff lightly & we wanna take care of each other out there. I liked how our group played & responded.”
Beyond goals and assists, Suzuki reaffirmed his role as the emotional leader of the team. His message is clear: the Canadiens will not be intimidated, regardless of the opponent’s style of play.
Controversy and Cohesion While figures like Sports Minister Isabelle Charest have voiced concerns about the image these fights project, others see them as a sign of team spirit. For head coach Martin St-Louis, the priority remains protecting young stars like Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov from unnecessary conflict.
A Rivalry Reignited This clash with Ottawa left both physical and emotional marks. The historic rivalry between the two teams seems to have come back to life, and all signs point to an even more intense showdown at the Bell Centre in their next meeting.