Ottawa has opened the NHL season with the kind of urgency that changes expectations. At 4-1-0, the Senators are not merely collecting points; they are giving supporters evidence that this roster may be ready to compete seriously in the Atlantic Division.

The next examination comes Monday night in Newark, where Ottawa visits the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. The scheduled start is 7:08 p.m. ET, and the matchup brings together two teams arriving with very different records but plenty of offensive skill.

New Jersey stands at 2-2-0 after defeating Vancouver 4-1 on Saturday. Ottawa, meanwhile, is coming off a 3-2 shootout win over Nashville. A victory on the road would give the Senators a 5-1-0 record and their most persuasive result of the young season.

Ottawa Has Built Its Start Around Tim Stützle

The central figure in Ottawa’s opening surge has been Tim Stützle. Through five games, the German forward has scored four times and added four assists for eight total points.

That production has not come from simply finishing chances created by others. Stützle has been one of the players generating the chances himself. His acceleration through the neutral zone forces defenders to retreat, while his passing vision can turn a routine entry into an immediate threat.

He also contributed a power-play goal and an assist in Ottawa’s win over Nashville. Those special-teams contributions matter because New Jersey has shown that it can make opponents pay when the game shifts into a man-advantage battle.

The Devils will need to limit Stützle’s time with the puck, especially near the top of the offensive zone and around the slot. Allowing him space could give Ottawa the same offensive momentum it has displayed throughout the first week.

Linus Ullmark Has Made Mistakes Expensive

Ottawa’s strong record cannot be explained by offense alone. Goaltender Linus Ullmark has provided the stability required to protect narrow leads and keep the Senators competitive when their opponents create pressure.

Ullmark is 4-0-0 in his first four starts, carrying a 1.34 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Those numbers reflect more than routine work; they show how effectively he has handled the high-danger opportunities that often decide early-season games.

New Jersey’s attack can produce chances quickly through its top forwards, so Ullmark may face extended stretches in which the Devils control possession. His ability to track the puck through traffic and prevent a single breakdown from becoming a goal will be crucial.

If the game remains close into the third period, Ottawa’s goaltending could become its clearest advantage. The Senators have already demonstrated that they can win tight contests, and Ullmark gives them confidence in those situations.

New Jersey’s Power Play Has Found Its Rhythm

The Devils enter this meeting with renewed confidence after their convincing performance against Vancouver. Captain Nico Hischier scored twice and added an assist, while Jesper Bratt recorded a goal and an assist. Jack Hughes also supplied two assists as New Jersey controlled the game’s decisive moments.

Hischier’s first goal carried additional significance because it was the 200th of his NHL career. His second goal also came on the power play, part of a three-goal performance by New Jersey’s man-advantage unit on four opportunities.

That efficiency presents an immediate problem for Ottawa. The Senators cannot afford careless stick penalties, late hits or defensive-zone infractions that repeatedly put Hischier, Bratt and Hughes on the ice with an extra skater.

New Jersey’s power play does more than create scoring chances. It can alter the pace of the game, force Ottawa’s best penalty killers into difficult minutes and give the Devils a way to overcome stretches in which the Senators control play at five-on-five.

The Center-Ice Battle Could Shape the Result

The most compelling individual contest may develop between Stützle and Hischier. Each center enters the game after a major offensive performance, and both have the skill to influence more than one phase of the night.

Stützle offers Ottawa speed and creativity in transition. Hischier brings intelligence in all three zones, strong positioning and the ability to make his presence felt around the net. Their impact may not always appear on the scoresheet immediately, but both can create the sequence that changes the game.

The matchup also extends to special teams. Stützle’s playmaking can make Ottawa’s power play dangerous, while Hischier has already shown how effectively he can attack from the slot when New Jersey gains an advantage.

Whichever player consistently wins the middle of the ice could give his team better entries, more offensive-zone time and the last change in momentum. Their performances may ultimately determine whether this becomes another Ottawa statement win or a New Jersey response to its uneven opening.

What Ottawa Must Do to Leave Newark With Two Points

The Senators do not need to reinvent their game. They need to preserve the habits that produced their 4-1-0 start while eliminating the openings that New Jersey’s top players are equipped to exploit.

Clean exits will be especially important. Ottawa cannot allow the Devils to establish repeated cycles in the offensive zone, and rushed passes through the middle could lead directly to odd-man chances. Moving the puck quickly but responsibly should help the Senators attack before New Jersey’s structure is set.

Discipline is just as important. The Devils converted three of four power-play opportunities against Vancouver, so Ottawa’s penalty killers may not receive many chances to recover from a poor decision. Staying at five-on-five would allow the Senators to use their speed and test New Jersey’s defense more consistently.

Ottawa also needs continued support from Ullmark. Even a strong road performance can unravel if the Devils receive an early goal, so timely saves could allow Stützle and the Senators’ forwards to settle into their preferred attacking rhythm.

Game Details and Final Outlook

The Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils meet Monday, October 12, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. ET. Ottawa enters at 4-1-0, while New Jersey is 2-2-0.

This game offers a useful measure of Ottawa’s progress. The Senators have beaten Nashville, received elite early goaltending and watched Stützle emerge as a point-producing centerpiece. Yet New Jersey brings home-ice energy, a dangerous top six and a power play that just delivered three goals.

A disciplined Ottawa team with strong goaltending can make the Devils work for every chance. If Stützle continues to drive offense and Ullmark maintains his form, the Senators have a legitimate opportunity to extend their impressive beginning. If New Jersey keeps drawing penalties and Hischier, Bratt and Hughes find room, the Devils can turn the game in a hurry.

For Ottawa, this is more than another game in the opening schedule. It is an early chance to show that the hot start reflects genuine team quality rather than a brief run of favorable results.