In their first game since clinching a playoff berth on Tuesday (April 8), the Ottawa Senators prevented the Montreal Canadiens from punching their ticket to the postseason with a 5-2 victory on Friday at Canadian Tire Centre. The Sens controlled the pace of play for the majority of the 60 minutes, and with four different goalscorers, including two from Shane Pinto, the Sens continued their strong run of play without Brady Tkachuk. Sens starter Linus Ullmark made 20 saves for his 24th win of the season and helped Ottawa avoid the season series sweep against the Canadiens. Montreal starter Samuel Montembeault made 28 saves in Friday’s loss. Game Recap It took only 28 seconds for the Senators to open the scoring as Pinto snapped home a Ridly Greig behind-the-net feed for his 19th of the season. Dylan Cozens made it 2-0 for the Sens when he corralled a rebound off Montembeault’s right pad and fired it in for his 15th of the season. Play remained in Montreal’s end for the majority of the period as the Canadiens were outshot 14-5 in the first 20 minutes. The Sens even had two power play opportunities in the first, but Montreal managed to kill off both attempts. The second period saw plenty of action as Jake Sanderson skated end to end and found Michael Amadio who centred a pass in front of Montreal’s goal for Greig who tipped it in for his 13th of the season just 1:05 into the second. Montreal forward Christian Dvorak responded just over a minute later with a breakaway snipe to get the Canadiens on the board with his 13th of the season, as the Sens’ lead was now 3-1. Drake Batherson restored Ottawa’s three-goal lead when he tipped a Thomas Chabot shot past Montembeault for his 23rd of the season at 14:14 of the second. Montreal responded just over a minute later when captain Nick Suzuki tipped a Juraj Slafkovsky pass from the left corner past Ullmark for his 29th of the season, cutting the deficit back to two. Both goaltenders saw plenty of action in the second period. Montreal outshot Ottawa 13-10 as they stared down a two-goal deficit heading into the third. Shane Pinto, Ottawa Senators (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) The final 20 minutes were much more conservative in terms of chances for both teams. The Canadiens managed just four shots to Ottawa’s nine, and Pinto put the game away with an empty-netter with his second of the night at 17:44 in the third. Montreal is back in action on Saturday (April 12) when they travel to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs. Montreal can clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Sens’ next game will be on Sunday (April 13) when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.