The prospects for the Montreal Canadiens didn’t have a stellar showing in their first Prospect Challenge game, but they bounced back strongly this time around. Facing off against the Ottawa Senators, the young Canadiens displayed resilience, coming from behind to win in a shootout with a final score of 5-4. The Canadiens lineup featured the same leadership group as in their initial game, with Luke Mittelstadt wearing the captain’s “C” and Dillan Brentley and Tyler Thorpe serving as alternate captains.
Like Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, the Senators’ roster boasted several high draft picks. Jaxon Cover, selected 32nd overall in the last draft, made a significant impact with three points in the first period alone. Kasper Halttunen, picked 36th overall, also contributed with the game’s first goal. The Senators’ lineup included Blake Vanek, son of former Hab Thomas Vanek, and Christian Kyrou, Jordan Kyrou’s brother.
Cover nearly scored a fourth point early in the second period with a breakaway, but the Canadiens’ goalie Mikus Vecvanags made an impressive save to keep the game close. Much like in the previous game, Montreal struggled with discipline at times—Parker Trottier sat in the penalty box during Ottawa’s power play—but the team managed to hold firm. They scored a second power-play goal by Josh Nadeau, who had already scored earlier, and Mittelstadt assisted on both of his first two goals.
The second period was lively, featuring physical play with Wesley Roston dropping gloves against Kaleb Dietsch, and players from both sides spending time in the penalty box—almost replicating a true Montreal-Ottawa rivalry. In the third, Montreal fought back, tying the game with a shot from the blue line by Jean-Samuel Daigneault and then taking the lead when Nadeau completed his hat trick, assisted again by Mittelstadt.
However, a mishap involving Tyler Thorpe—his missed hit resulting in a knee-on-knee collision—led to a penalty that allowed the Senators to tie the game with Eskild Bakke Olsen’s goal, assisted by Cover, who finished with four assists. The game remained tied through overtime, with neither team able to capitalize in the three-on-three extra session.
In the shootout, Alexander Legkov scored a highlight-reel move to give the Canadiens the advantage, and Vecvanags made key saves, including stopping Cover. Parker Trottier also scored for Montreal, sealing a 5-4 victory. Despite Ottawa’s strong roster on paper, the Canadiens proved to be the better team on this night.
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Fan Take: This comeback win shows promising resilience and skill from Montreal’s young players, hinting at exciting potential for the team’s future. For hockey fans, it’s a reminder that development comes with ups and downs, and moments like these can energize the sport’s community by showcasing the bright stars of tomorrow.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
