Ottawa has opened the NHL season with the kind of confidence that can change expectations quickly. The Senators bring a 4-1-0 record into Monday night’s meeting with New Jersey, while the Devils enter at 2-2-0 after their most convincing performance of the young campaign.
The game begins at 7:08 p.m. ET at Prudential Center in Newark. Ottawa will try to extend its early surge, but New Jersey has the offensive talent and special-teams threat to make this a demanding road assignment.
Ottawa’s Early Success Has Come From Both Ends of the Ice
The Senators have not relied on one narrow formula during their first five games. Their top players have delivered important scoring, their goaltending has provided stability, and the team has repeatedly found ways to finish close games.
Ottawa’s latest result was a 3-2 shootout win over Nashville on Saturday. That victory gave the Senators another boost before a difficult trip to New Jersey and created an opportunity to improve to 5-1-0.
A road win against the Devils would carry more weight than simply adding another mark to the standings. It would show that Ottawa can handle a talented opponent in a hostile building while managing the pressure that comes with an excellent start.
The Senators’ offensive momentum has been led by Tim Stützle, who has become the most productive player on the roster through the opening stretch. He has scored four times and added four assists for eight points in five games, including a power-play goal and an assist against Nashville.
Stützle’s value extends beyond the box score. His acceleration allows him to attack open ice before defenses are organized, and his vision can turn a routine possession into a dangerous chance. When opponents give him room near the circles or in front of the net, he has the skill to finish the sequence himself.
New Jersey will need a disciplined defensive plan whenever Stützle steps over the blue line. Closing his passing lanes without surrendering space to Ottawa’s other skilled forwards could be one of the Devils’ most difficult tasks.
Ullmark’s Numbers Give the Senators Room to Play Aggressively
Ottawa’s strong start is also tied to Linus Ullmark’s excellent work in the crease. The goaltender is 4-0-0 in his first four starts and has posted a 1.34 goals-against average with a .942 save percentage.
Those figures give the Senators an important margin for error. A team can attack with greater confidence when its goaltender is consistently stopping the first shot, controlling rebounds and keeping a single mistake from becoming an immediate deficit.
That advantage will be especially valuable against New Jersey. The Devils possess several players who can create scoring chances quickly, particularly when the game opens up through the neutral zone. Ullmark’s ability to limit those chances may determine whether Ottawa can preserve its preferred style.
New Jersey’s Jake Allen is also expected to face substantial pressure, with Ottawa arriving behind a productive top line and a goaltender who has allowed only five goals across his first four appearances. The matchup could become a contest between Ottawa’s ability to generate quality chances and New Jersey’s effort to make Ullmark work through traffic.
New Jersey’s Power Play Has Suddenly Become a Major Concern
The Devils enter this matchup with renewed confidence after defeating Vancouver 4-1 at Prudential Center on Saturday. The victory moved New Jersey to 2-2-0 and gave the home side an ideal result before welcoming Ottawa.
Nico Hischier was the central figure in that performance. The Devils captain scored twice and added an assist, with his opening goal marking the 200th of his NHL career. Jesper Bratt contributed a goal and an assist, while Jack Hughes recorded two assists.
More concerning for Ottawa was New Jersey’s performance with the man advantage. The Devils scored three power-play goals on four opportunities against Vancouver, with Hischier responsible for two and Bratt adding the other.
That production makes penalty avoidance a central theme for the Senators. Ottawa cannot afford to give Hischier, Bratt and Hughes repeated time with an extra skater, particularly if New Jersey’s puck movement continues to look as sharp as it did Saturday.
The Senators will need strong stick positioning, clean changes and careful defensive decision-making. A few unnecessary penalties could erase the benefit of their even-strength play and give the Devils a direct route back into the game.
Stützle and Hischier Offer a Compelling Center-Ice Duel
The most interesting individual battle may take place between Stützle and Hischier. Ottawa’s center has supplied eight points in five games, making him the leading offensive driver for the Senators. Hischier, meanwhile, arrives after a three-point outing that showed how quickly he can influence a result.
The two players bring different strengths to the matchup. Stützle is a dynamic creator who can accelerate through the middle of the ice and open opportunities with lateral movement. Hischier combines intelligent positioning with two-way responsibility and has already demonstrated that he can punish opponents on the power play.
Their influence will not be limited to direct scoring chances. Each center can determine which team spends more time in the attacking zone, win important puck battles and force opposing defenders into difficult choices.
If Stützle controls the pace at five-on-five, Ottawa could keep New Jersey from building sustained pressure. If Hischier and the Devils’ top unit draw penalties and convert their opportunities, the home team may neutralize Ottawa’s early advantage quickly.
What Monday’s Result Could Reveal About Both Teams
For Ottawa, this game is a test of sustainability. A 4-1-0 record is an excellent beginning, but the Senators must demonstrate that their success is not limited to favorable matchups or home-ice comfort. Performing well in Newark would strengthen the argument that this roster is prepared to compete seriously in the Atlantic Division.
For New Jersey, the objective is to build on Saturday’s complete performance. The Devils showed finishing ability, received major contributions from their leaders and produced an electric power play. Another victory would give them a winning record and reinforce the belief that their opening losses were temporary setbacks rather than a larger concern.
The matchup also carries a clear contrast in momentum. Ottawa has won four of its first five games, while New Jersey is attempting to turn one dominant night into a lasting improvement. The team that handles the first wave of pressure—and avoids costly special-teams mistakes—may control the evening.
Monday’s game should therefore offer more than a simple early-season standings result. It will measure Ottawa’s ability to defend its fast start, New Jersey’s ability to sustain its offensive rhythm and the impact of two emerging leaders at center ice.
Game details: The Ottawa Senators face the New Jersey Devils on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 7:08 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, with Ottawa entering at 4-1-0 and New Jersey at 2-2-0.
With Stützle creating chances, Ullmark protecting the crease and Hischier leading a dangerous power play, this contest has the ingredients of an early-season measuring stick for both clubs.
