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The Canadiens kept their foot on the gas in the third period vs. Ottawa

The recipe was there for the Montreal Canadiens to have a third period let down against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.

They saw their two-goal lead cut to one after they gave up a late power play goal in the second period. The Senators would have another chance before the period ended. They were on the road on the second half of their home-and-home series.

Instead, the Canadiens outshot the Senators 14-2 in the final 20 minutes at even strength, and 22-5 overall. They scored a quick goal from Brendan Gallagher which set the tone for the period, and Montreal kept going, before getting a second goal from Paul Byron into an empty net. It was a type of killer instinct we haven’t often seen from the Canadiens this year, or in recent years en route to their second straight 5-2 win.

This was a big series for the Canadiens. At the start of the series, there were two points separating the two teams in a very, very tight Eastern Conference. Now, the Canadiens are six points up on Ottawa, and actually in the top Wild Card spot as we speak.

After a streak that wasn’t really the best we saw from the Canadiens when they played – and lost – to Eastern Conference rivals like the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Boston Bruins, they seem to be back on track.

They have won two in a row and three of their last four, and it was a good start to a month that they usually struggle in. They now have a rare Saturday night off and battle the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night as they start a mini road trip to Chicago and then Minnesota.

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