After splitting the first two games in Montreal, the Canadiens hoped to assert themselves as they went to Ottawa to face the Senators in the third game of their playoff series.
Montreal thought its superior skating and offensive talent would give them the edge, even if they were playing on the road.
However, the Senators outworked, outhit and outplayed the Canadiens and took a 2-1 lead into the final period. When Senators rookie Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored an early goal for the Senators to give them a two-goal lead, the Canadiens fell apart.
They got blitzed 4-0 in the third period as Carey Price continued to have late-season problems. Additionally, the Canadiens lost their cool and engaged in hooliganism that is no longer frequently seen in the NHL.
When the Canadiens needed leadership, head coach Michel Therrien seemed to encourage his team to act in a childish manner.
The Canadiens trail by a slim 2-1 margin in the series, but they have miles to go to recapture their focus and poise.
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