Ottawa has opened the NHL season with the kind of momentum that quickly changes expectations. The Senators arrive in Newark at 4-1-0, while the New Jersey Devils are 2-2-0 and coming off their most complete performance of the young campaign.
The teams meet Monday, October 12, at Prudential Center. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:08 p.m. ET, setting up a compact early-season test for two clubs with dangerous offensive leaders and very different momentum entering the night.
Why Ottawa Has Become One of the Early Stories
The Senators earned their fourth win Saturday by edging Nashville 3-2 in a shootout. That result extended their strong opening run and gave the team another example of how to survive a tight game when scoring chances are limited.
Ottawa has not relied on one formula alone. Its top forwards have created offense, the team has found timely goals, and goaltender Linus Ullmark has provided the stability required to win close contests. A victory in New Jersey would offer the strongest evidence yet that this is more than a brief hot streak.
Tim Stützle has been the centerpiece of Ottawa’s attack. After five games, the German center has four goals and four assists for eight points. His production includes power-play success, but his broader influence is just as significant.
Stützle can accelerate through the neutral zone, draw defenders toward him, and create passing options before opponents have time to reset. When he finds open ice near the crease, he also has the finishing touch to turn a small defensive mistake into a goal.
The Numbers That Could Shape the Game
| Category | Ottawa Senators | New Jersey Devils |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 4-1-0 | 2-2-0 |
| Leading offensive player | Tim Stützle: 4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points | Nico Hischier: 2 goals and 1 assist in his last game |
| Recent result | 3-2 shootout win over Nashville | 4-1 win over Vancouver |
| Goaltending note | Linus Ullmark: 4-0-0, 1.34 goals-against average, .942 save percentage | New Jersey enters after a convincing home victory |
Ullmark’s start has been almost as important as Stützle’s scoring. The Ottawa goaltender is 4-0-0 through four starts, with a 1.34 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Those figures give the Senators a major advantage in a matchup that could be decided by a single mistake.
New Jersey, however, demonstrated Saturday that its offense can overwhelm an opponent when the top line establishes control. The Devils defeated Vancouver 4-1 at Prudential Center, improving to 2-2-0.
New Jersey’s Power Play Demands Discipline
Nico Hischier led the way against Vancouver with two goals and an assist. One of those goals marked the 200th of his NHL career, making the captain’s performance notable both personally and for the team’s immediate needs.
Jesper Bratt contributed a goal and an assist, while Jack Hughes added two assists. The Devils also converted three times on four power-play chances, a level of efficiency that Ottawa cannot afford to invite again and again.
The most important sequence for the Senators is straightforward:
- Stay disciplined through the neutral zone and avoid unnecessary penalties.
- Prevent Hischier, Bratt, and Hughes from settling into extended offensive-zone possessions.
- Force New Jersey to create at even strength instead of giving its best playmakers extra space and time.
Ottawa’s penalty killers will face immediate pressure if the Devils receive repeated opportunities. Hischier already scored twice with the man advantage against Vancouver, and New Jersey’s confidence could grow quickly if the power play connects early.
Stützle and Hischier Set the Central Individual Battle
The matchup between Stützle and Hischier may define the game’s rhythm. Stützle enters as Ottawa’s leading offensive force, while Hischier is coming off a three-point performance that reminded everyone how much damage he can create as both a scorer and playmaker.
Both centers contribute beyond the scoresheet. They handle major responsibilities on special teams, help drive possession, and can turn an ordinary shift into a dangerous attack. The player who controls the middle of the ice could give his team the territorial advantage needed to win.
For Ottawa, the ideal script includes Stützle attacking with speed and Ullmark keeping the game within reach. For New Jersey, the priority is to pressure Ottawa’s defense, draw penalties, and make the Senators’ goaltender work before the visitors can settle into their preferred pace.
Game Details and Final Outlook
Matchup: Ottawa Senators vs. New Jersey Devils
Date: Monday, October 12, 2026
Time: 7:08 p.m. ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Records: Ottawa 4-1-0; New Jersey 2-2-0
Ottawa can move to 5-1-0 with a road win and strengthen its place among the NHL’s hottest early-season teams. New Jersey has the home-ice advantage, renewed confidence, and a power play that just produced three goals against Vancouver.
That combination makes this more than a routine October matchup. Stützle’s creativity, Ullmark’s outstanding form, Hischier’s leadership, and New Jersey’s special-teams threat should produce a demanding test for both clubs.