Stützle and Hischier Set the Tone in Newark

Two of the NHL’s most influential young centers will share the spotlight Monday night when the Ottawa Senators visit the New Jersey Devils. Ottawa arrives at Prudential Center with a 4-1-0 record, while New Jersey is trying to build on a convincing win over Vancouver.

The game is scheduled for Monday, October 12, 2026, with the opening faceoff set for 7:08 p.m. ET in Newark. The matchup is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs.

Ottawa Has Quickly Become One of the League’s Early Stories

The Senators have needed only five games to generate genuine excitement around their season. Their 4-1-0 start reflects more than a favorable schedule; Ottawa has received major contributions from its top players while finding different ways to close out games.

That confidence grew again Saturday, when the Senators defeated Nashville 3-2 in a shootout. A road victory over New Jersey would carry even more weight because the Devils have enough speed and offensive skill to expose any weaknesses.

Ottawa is not yet being asked to prove that it can maintain this pace for 82 games. The immediate challenge is more practical: avoid a poor start, handle New Jersey’s pressure and show that the opening surge was not simply a short-lived burst.

Tim Stützle Has Given the Senators Their Offensive Spark

Tim Stützle has been the clearest reason for Ottawa’s fast start. The German forward has eight points in five games, including four goals and four assists, and he also contributed a power-play goal and an assist in the Nashville win.

His value goes beyond the box score. Stützle can accelerate through the neutral zone, force defenders to retreat and create passing options before opponents have time to establish their coverage. When he finds space near the crease, his quick release gives Ottawa another way to turn possession into scoring chances.

New Jersey will need disciplined gap control whenever Stützle is on the ice. Allowing him room to carry the puck could invite the kind of transition attack that has powered Ottawa during the first week of the season.

Ullmark’s Early Form Could Decide a Tight Game

Ottawa’s strong start has also been supported by Linus Ullmark. The goaltender is 4-0-0 through his first four starts, carrying a 1.34 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage.

Those numbers give the Senators valuable flexibility on the road. Ullmark’s performance can keep Ottawa within striking distance if New Jersey controls stretches of play, and it allows the Senators’ offense to wait for the next opening rather than chasing the game.

The Devils create danger quickly through the middle of the ice, so Ullmark may face several high-quality chances rather than a steady stream of harmless shots. If he remains composed under that pressure, New Jersey’s margin for error will become very small.

New Jersey’s Power Play Is the Immediate Warning Sign

The Devils enter this contest with momentum of their own after dismantling the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Saturday. New Jersey improved to 2-2-0, and its special teams were central to the result: the Devils scored three times on four power-play opportunities.

Nico Hischier led the way with two goals and an assist, while Jesper Bratt added a goal and an assist. Jack Hughes supplied two assists, giving New Jersey’s best players the kind of offensive involvement the team has been looking for.

Hischier’s opening goal carried additional significance because it was the 200th of his NHL career. The milestone also helped him become the fifth player in the franchise’s history to reach that total.

Ottawa cannot afford to treat penalties as a minor issue. Hischier, Bratt and Hughes can move the puck rapidly, and repeated opportunities with an extra skater could erase the Senators’ even-strength advantages. Staying out of the box may be Ottawa’s most important tactical assignment.

The Center-Ice Duel Could Shape the Result

Stützle and Hischier bring different styles to the same central responsibility: controlling the game from the middle of the ice. Stützle has been Ottawa’s leading offensive catalyst, using speed and creativity to generate movement. Hischier combines playmaking ability with a strong two-way presence and now enters the game after a three-point performance.

The winner of this individual battle may not be determined by goals alone. Faceoff results, defensive awareness, puck recoveries and special-teams execution could matter just as much as finishing.

New Jersey will want Hischier and Hughes to dictate the pace at home, while Ottawa will look for Stützle to turn transition opportunities into immediate pressure. The team that gets more from its top centers could control the game’s most important moments.

Senators vs. Devils Game Details

Monday’s contest features the Ottawa Senators against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:08 p.m. ET on October 12, 2026.

Ottawa enters with a 4-1-0 record, and a win would move the Senators to 5-1-0. New Jersey begins the night at 2-2-0 and will be seeking a second straight victory to finish its homestand on a positive note.

For Ottawa, the formula is clear: keep Stützle involved, trust Ullmark to handle New Jersey’s best chances and avoid unnecessary penalties. For the Devils, the priorities are equally direct: create power-play opportunities and give Hischier, Bratt and Hughes enough time and space to attack.

With Ottawa’s fast start colliding with New Jersey’s renewed confidence, this game offers an early test of which team can turn promising moments into consistent results.