Demidov scores game-winner, Canadiens beat Senators 3-2

Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Texier (85) celebrates his goal on Ottawa Senators' goaltender Linus Ullmark (35), not pictured, with teammates during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA — Ivan Demidov scored the game-winner to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Demidov also had an assist in the game. Juraj Slafkovsky and Alexandre Texier scored Montreal’s other goals, with goaltender Jacob Fowler earning the win with 32 saves.

Demidov produced the winner for Montreal (36-18-10) with seven minutes 20 seconds remaining. He pounced on an Alex Newhook rebound to beat Linus Ullmark, who stopped 20 shots.

Drake Batherson scored both goals for Ottawa (32-23-9).

The Canadiens, coming off a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, tied the game on a sequence that began when Slafkovsky rang a shot off the post.

The rebound led to Michael Amadio breaking in on Fowler, who came up with a key save before the play turned back the other way.

Lane Hutson sent the puck behind the net, where Texier picked it up and beat Ullmark five-hole on a wraparound.

Ottawa led 2-1 after the first period.

Slafkovsky opened the scoring for Montreal at 1:16 when he buried a feed from Demidov for a power-play goal.

The Senators countered with their own power-play goal at 16:45 when Brady Tkachuk’s shot deflected off Batherson.

Batherson struck again with a minute 19 seconds remaining in the period when he tipped a shot in from close range.

With assists on both Batherson goals Tim Stützle recorded his 100th career multi-point game and extended his point streak to 14 games (eight goals, 11 assists).

Takeaways

Senators: With the Senators playing without Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub played a solid game.

Montreal: Playing back-to-back road games showed in the second period with multiple turnovers.

Key Moment

With less than a minute remaining Fowler came up with a huge save on Ottawa’s Claude Giroux.

Key Stat

Montreal’s Jake Evans played in his 400th NHL game Wednesday. The veteran is riding a five-game point streak (three goals, three assists).

Up next

Senators: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

Canadiens: Host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2026

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press