Ottawa has turned the opening week of the NHL season into an early statement. The Senators bring a 4-1-0 record into Monday’s meeting with the New Jersey Devils, while the home team sits at 2-2-0 after a confidence-building win over Vancouver.
The game begins at 7:08 p.m. ET at Prudential Center in Newark on Monday, October 12. Ottawa can strengthen its position in the Atlantic Division with another road victory, but New Jersey will try to close its homestand by handing the league’s fast-starting Senators their second loss.
Ottawa’s Fast Start Has a Clear Offensive Leader
Tim Stützle has been the central figure in Ottawa’s impressive opening stretch. The 24-year-old center has collected four goals and four assists through five games, giving him eight points and making him one of the most productive players in the league at this early stage.
His influence extends beyond the scoresheet. Stützle can accelerate through the neutral zone, force defenders to retreat and create passing options before opponents have time to establish their coverage. His quick hands also make him dangerous near the crease, particularly when the Senators’ power play puts him in space.
Stützle contributed a power-play goal and an assist in Ottawa’s 3-2 shootout victory over Nashville on Saturday. That result gave the Senators another example of their ability to survive a tight game and find a decisive play when the margin is small.
A strong performance in New Jersey would make Stützle’s opening week even more difficult for opposing teams to dismiss. The Devils will need clean defensive gaps and disciplined stick work whenever he is on the ice.
Ullmark Has Made Mistakes Especially Costly
Ottawa’s results have not been built solely on offensive production. Linus Ullmark has provided an equally important foundation in goal, beginning the season with a 4-0-0 record, a 1.34 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage.
Ullmark has allowed only five goals across his first four appearances, giving Ottawa the kind of dependable goaltending that can change the complexion of a road game. When a goalie is making difficult saves consistently, one missed assignment does not automatically become a deficit.
That could matter against New Jersey. The Devils have enough speed and skill to create chances in transition, and their top forwards can turn a loose puck into a scoring opportunity almost immediately. Ottawa’s defenders may not need perfection, but they will need to prevent extended sequences in their own zone.
- Ullmark’s early record: 4-0-0
- Goals-against average: 1.34
- Save percentage: .942
- Goals allowed through four games: 5
New Jersey Brings a Dangerous Power Play
The Devils enter the matchup with renewed confidence after beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Saturday at Prudential Center. New Jersey improved to 2-2-0, and the victory featured a breakout performance from captain Nico Hischier.
Hischier scored twice and added an assist, with the first goal marking the 200th of his NHL career. Jesper Bratt recorded a goal and an assist, while Jack Hughes supplied two assists as New Jersey’s leading players finally found consistent offensive rhythm.
The most significant warning for Ottawa came on special teams. New Jersey scored three power-play goals on four opportunities against Vancouver, including two from Hischier and one from Bratt.
Ottawa must therefore treat every penalty as a potential turning point. Repeated trips to the box could allow Hischier, Bratt and Hughes to dictate the game, even if the Senators perform well at five-on-five.
For the Devils, the objective is straightforward: pressure Ottawa’s puck carriers, draw penalties and make the Senators defend a power play that has just produced one of its best performances of the young season.
Hischier and Stützle Offer a Center-Ice Duel
The most compelling individual battle could develop between Hischier and Stützle. Both centers can drive offense, contribute on special teams and influence possession without needing a large number of touches to change a shift.
Stützle has the stronger statistical start, with eight points in five games. Hischier, however, arrives after a three-point night and will have the advantage of last change at home, allowing New Jersey to manage matchups more selectively.
The player who controls the middle of the ice may determine which team spends more time attacking. If Stützle finds room to enter the offensive zone with speed, Ottawa could put pressure on New Jersey’s defense before the Devils’ penalty killers are set. If Hischier wins those early battles, New Jersey may force the Senators into mistakes and create more power-play chances.
What Each Team Needs to Do
Ottawa’s best path is to protect the puck, avoid unnecessary penalties and trust Ullmark to handle the chances that get through. The Senators do not need a wide-open contest; their 4-1-0 start suggests they can win close games when their key players deliver at important moments.
New Jersey needs to turn its home-ice advantage into sustained pressure. The Devils should attack Ottawa’s defense with speed, make the Senators defend multiple shifts in a row and continue the aggressive power-play approach that produced three goals against Vancouver.
- Ottawa priority: Keep Stützle involved while limiting penalty trouble.
- New Jersey priority: Create traffic around Ullmark and earn power-play opportunities.
- Potential swing factor: Special teams could outweigh Ottawa’s early advantage at even strength.
Game Details for Senators Supporters
Matchup: Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils
Date: Monday, October 12, 2026
Faceoff: 7:08 p.m. ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Ottawa record: 4-1-0
New Jersey record: 2-2-0
Ottawa has the better record and the hottest scorer, while New Jersey owns home ice and enters with a surging power play. With Stützle creating chances, Ullmark protecting the crease and Hischier leading a confident Devils attack, this matchup should provide an early test of whether the Senators are merely off to a strong start or ready to remain among the NHL’s most dangerous teams.
