Canadiens and Senators Trade Punches and Punishments in Chaotic Preseason Blowout

Struble cross-checked Jenik in the chin, drawing Zack MacEwen into the fray. Before order could be restored, Arber Xhekaj stepped in and unloaded a barrage of rights on MacEwen, forcing referees to intervene.

Struble and Jenik squared off moments later, with three officials struggling to separate them. By the horn, nine players had been penalized, with Ottawa racking up 69 penalty minutes in the period alone.

The third period produced more fireworks. Arber Xhekaj renewed hostilities with MacEwen, earning both ejections, while Florian Xhekaj tangled with Carter Yakemchuk near the Canadiens’ bench.

Senators forward Nick Cousins slashed rookie Ivan Demidov, knocking him out of the game and drawing a misconduct.

Demidov finished with two assists before exiting, though coach Martin St. Louis said he was being evaluated as a precaution.

The ugliest scene came late when Ottawa defenseman Donovan Sebrango jumped Kirby Dach, launching punches from behind until officials pulled him away.

Sebrango drew a two-minute instigator penalty, a five-minute fighting major and a 10-minute misconduct, gifting Montreal a rare seven-minute power play.

Dach called it “not a hockey play” after the game, and “something that if you were out in the street, you’d be in a lot of trouble.”

Brendan Gallagher said the Canadiens “did a pretty good job of sticking up for each other” amid Ottawa’s antics. Ottawa coach Travis Green, meanwhile, blasted officials for missing the initial cross-check on Jenik, saying emotions boiled over when no call was made.

Montreal’s goals came from Oliver Kapanen, Laine, Carrier, Lane Hutson and Dach, with three on the power play. Jakub Dobes stopped all 16 shots for the shutout.

The two rivals meet again Saturday in Montreal to close out the preseason before their first regular-season matchup takes place in November.