Also, a check-in with Senators goaltending prospect Jackson Parsons who grew up a fan of the team thanks to Andrew Hammond.

Games between the Senators and Habs are emotional, toe-to-toe physical battles that normally bring out the best in both teams. Captain Brady Tkachuk, who is back from thumb surgery, and top centre Tim Stutzle both have earned villain status with the Montreal fanbase.

With Brady Tkachuk (thumb), Thomas Chabot (upper body), and Olle Lycksell (concussion) all on injured reserve, the Senators will still hit the road with a bloated roster. Tkachuk will travel with the team and could be activated at some point during the trip, while it appears that Chabot and Lycksell will stay behind.

The Ottawa Senators will be getting a major piece of their lineup back soon, as Brady Tkachuk has announced when he will return.

Off the faceoff at center-ice following Wyatt Johnston’s goal that gave the Stars a 3-1 lead, Bichsel was skating toward the boards in front of the benches to get the puck. As he made the play on the puck, he absorbed a check from Ottawa’s Fabian Zetterlund and went feet-first into what was an awkward collision along the boards.

Drake Batherson’s goal with under two minutes to play in regulation gave the Ottawa Senators a 3–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. It was a memorable evening for Senators rookie Stephen Halliday, who not only played his first NHL game but also recorded a gorgeous assist on Shane Pinto’s game-tying goal.

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators in a matchup of Atlantic Division squads. Montreal has a 4-2-0 record in Atlantic Division play and a 13-8-3 record overall. The Canadiens have a -3 scoring differential, with 82 total goals scored and 85 conceded.

Brady Tkachuk’s return was long awaited by the Ottawa Senators but happened in a game the team is eager to put behind them — and they will get a chance to do just that on Sunday, the last Western Conference locale on their season-long seven-game road trip.