The Ottawa Senators have opened the 2026-27 NHL season with the kind of urgency that immediately changes expectations. At 4-1-0, they arrive in Newark on Monday night carrying genuine momentum, but the New Jersey Devils present a difficult challenge for a club still proving that its early success can last.
The game begins shortly after 7 p.m. ET at Prudential Center, where the Devils will try to build on a 4-1 victory over Vancouver. Ottawa is coming off a 3-2 shootout win against Nashville on Saturday, setting up a matchup between two teams that enter the night with confidence for very different reasons.
Ottawa’s Fast Start Has Created New Expectations
Five games do not determine the outcome of an 82-game schedule, yet Ottawa has already supplied plenty of evidence that it deserves serious attention in the Atlantic Division. The Senators have combined timely offense, dependable goaltending and contributions from their most important players to assemble a 4-1-0 record.
The victory over Nashville was not effortless. Ottawa needed a shootout to finish the job, but finding a way to win a close game is valuable early in the season. Those points can become especially important when a team is attempting to establish itself in a demanding division filled with playoff contenders.
A win in New Jersey would carry even greater weight. It would move the Senators to 5-1-0 and provide their strongest road result of the young campaign. More importantly, it would show that Ottawa can handle a dangerous opponent away from home instead of relying only on the energy of its own arena.
Stützle Is Driving the Senators’ Attack
Tim Stützle has been the clearest source of Ottawa’s offensive energy. The German center has collected four goals and four assists for eight points through five games, giving him a direct role in nearly every major offensive moment during the Senators’ opening stretch.
His performance against Nashville illustrated why he has become such a difficult player to contain. Stützle scored on the power play and added an assist, combining quick movement with the vision to recognize openings before defenders can close them.
Stützle can attack through the neutral zone, create separation with his speed and deliver passes that force opponents to adjust their coverage. He is also comfortable finishing chances near the crease when a defense gives him even a small amount of room.
That versatility will be tested against New Jersey. The Devils have enough skill throughout their lineup to punish careless turnovers, so Ottawa will need its top center to contribute without sacrificing responsible play. If Stützle continues producing at his current rate, he could become one of the season’s most prominent hockey stories in Canada.
Ullmark’s Numbers Give Ottawa Room to Compete
Ottawa’s early success is not based entirely on offense. Linus Ullmark has provided a crucial layer of stability in the crease, going 4-0-0 across his first four starts.
His early statistics are exceptional: a 1.34 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Those figures reflect more than routine saves. Ullmark has given the Senators the ability to survive difficult stretches and remain within reach when an opponent controls possession.
That could be decisive against New Jersey, whose best forwards can create chances quickly from the rush and around the net. A strong goaltending performance would allow Ottawa to withstand pressure while waiting for its own top players to find openings.
The Devils may not need to dominate for long periods to take control of this game. However, if Ullmark continues to stop the first quality chance and limit rebounds, New Jersey will have far less room for mistakes.
New Jersey’s Special Teams Have Become a Major Threat
The Devils enter the matchup at 2-2-0, but their latest performance showed why Ottawa cannot judge them solely by their record. New Jersey defeated Vancouver 4-1 at Prudential Center on Saturday, producing its most complete display of the young season.
Nico Hischier led the way with two goals and an assist, including the 200th goal of his NHL career. Jesper Bratt added a goal and an assist, while Jack Hughes finished with two assists as the Devils’ most dangerous players consistently influenced the game.
New Jersey was particularly sharp on the power play, converting three times on four opportunities. Hischier scored twice with the man advantage, and Bratt added another goal, making Vancouver pay whenever it gave the Devils extra space and an additional skater.
Ottawa must treat that performance as a clear warning. Penalties could quickly change the balance of the game, especially if Hischier, Bratt and Hughes repeatedly receive time in the offensive zone with the power play assembled.
The Center-Ice Battle Could Shape the Result
The matchup between Hischier and Stützle deserves special attention. Both centers can create offense, contribute on special teams and influence the game in ways that extend beyond the scoresheet.
Stützle enters the night as Ottawa’s hottest scorer, while Hischier arrives after a three-point performance and a milestone achievement. Their responsibilities will include more than producing goals and assists. Each player will also be expected to help control the middle of the ice, support defensive coverage and turn transitions into scoring chances.
The center who wins more races to loose pucks and makes better decisions under pressure could give his team a significant advantage. A single successful read in the neutral zone may be enough to create a breakaway or force an opponent into a penalty.
What to Watch When the Puck Drops
Ottawa’s priorities are straightforward. The Senators must defend without taking unnecessary penalties, protect the puck when leaving their own zone and make New Jersey pay when opportunities appear on the power play.
The Devils, meanwhile, will try to use home-ice energy and their recent special-teams success to pressure Ottawa early. Their top forwards can change the game quickly, but they will face a goaltender who has allowed very little through four starts.
Monday’s matchup therefore offers a useful measuring stick for both clubs. Ottawa can show that its 4-1-0 record reflects sustainable improvement, while New Jersey can prove that its victory over Vancouver marked the beginning of a stronger run rather than a single standout night.
Game details: The Ottawa Senators visit 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. Ottawa enters at 4-1-0, and New Jersey begins at 2-2-0.
With Stützle creating chances, Ullmark protecting the crease and the Devils’ power play operating at full strength, this game has the ingredients of a closely contested NHL battle. The central question is whether Ottawa’s emerging core can handle its first major test of the season.