In Montreal, the Canadiens finally got a win for their new head coach, Dominique Ducharme, with a decision over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with the puck, but one thing, it’s going to have a special place for me,” Ducharme said. “I mean to be having my first NHL win is special, and to have it with this team, with the Canadiens, is special for me, so it’s going to have a special place.
“For [Drouin], he came in when he was only 16, it’s like 10 years ago. And we’ve gone a long way together. We’ve won together in juniors (Memorial Cup champions in 2013), we’ve worked together since I’m here. I think there’s respect on both sides. I didn’t know he did that but it’s a great gesture.”
Carey Price made 26 saves in the 3-1 win.
“We’re happy, obviously, not satisfied,” Price said. “Definitely very happy for coach and [new assistant Alexandre Burrows]. You know, they’ve both been working really hard and I’m sure that they’re pretty happy tonight and proud.”
Artem Zub scored in the middle frame for the Senators after the Habs had taken a 2-0 lead.
“He’s dangerous every time he’s out there,” Senators head coach D.J. Smith said of Batherson. “He’s making plays, he’s getting better defensively, he’s blocking shots. He’s turning into a really good NHL player and one that I believe is going to be a good player for a long time for this team.” 
The Canadiens imp[roved to 10-6-5.
“The guys played very well in front of me. That’s the style that we want to have,” Price said. “We didn’t try and rope-a-dope it, we were aggressive and played well in all three zones.”
Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry scored for the Canadiens on the power play.
Tyler Toffoli sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 21 seconds left in regulation.
Joey Daccord made 30 saves in the loss.
“I thought we did a good job getting pucks on net, getting guys there, but some of the best goalies in the League can win a game for their team,” the Senators’ Brady Tkachuk said. “So be it. We live and we learn.”
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