Red Wings eye solution to Sens’ stranglehold on rivalry

The Ottawa Senators look to continue their recent dominance over the Detroit Red Wings when the Atlantic Division rivals meet in Ottawa on Monday.

Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Senators are 15-2-2 against the Red Wings. The two teams have yet to square off this season as all four of their matchups have been saved for the second half of the schedule.

Monday's contest marks the end of the Senators' four-game homestand and Ottawa can end it on a three-game win streak. Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets saw the Senators trail early after conceding a short-handed goal, but they scored the game's next three goals to take command.

Thomas Chabot had two of those goals, but suffered a painful moment late in the second period when he was struck in the face by a Tanner Pearson clearing attempt. In classic gritty defenseman style, Chabot returned for the start of the third period to finish out the game after receiving a few stitches in his chin.

"The jaw wasn't broken or anything, then you're good to go, really," said Chabot, who wore a full face shield upon returning. "My head was fine, everything was good, so once the jaw was cleared ... it was just about doing some stitches and getting back out there."

While Ottawa is 2-0-0 in 2026, Detroit seeks its first victory of the new year. The Red Wings are 0-1-1 in January after consecutive losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins, including a 4-1 home defeat on Saturday that stands as one of the more lackluster offensive performances in team history.

Detroit mustered only 12 shots against Pittsburgh, tying the third-lowest total in any Red Wings game since the NHL began recording shots in the 1959-60 season.

"We didn't play the way that we've been playing, which is going to the net, getting pucks to the net and being simple," forward J.T. Compher said. "We were trying to make the perfect play. ... Everyone's saying the right thing and then everyone gets on the ice and we don't shoot it."

Alex DeBrincat scored his team-leading 22nd goal for Detroit's only tally. Lucas Raymond leads the Red Wings in assists (33) and points (44).

Tim Stutzle leads Ottawa in goals (19), assists (24) and points (43). The red-hot forward owns 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) over a 12-game points streak. If he scores a point Monday, he'll tie the fourth-longest points streak in franchise history.

The Senators and Red Wings have two of the NHL's better power plays, and both units have been rolling. Ottawa is 16-for-52 on the power play over its last 14 games while Detroit is 10-for-30 with the extra attacker over its last 10 games.

John Gibson stopped 27 of 29 Penguins shots Saturday, which helped the Wings stay close despite their shots deficit. Gibson has gotten the majority of action lately, but Cam Talbot could rotate in for a start Monday to face his former team.

Leevi Merilainen is expected to make his fourth consecutive start for Ottawa. Linus Ullmark remains absent on personal leave, so Merilainen and recent AHL callup Hunter Shepard will hold the fort until Ullmark returns.