MTL-OTT: Game recap | Prospect Challenge

GATINEAU – Josh Nadeau scored a hat trick as the Canadiens rookies outlasted the Ottawa Senators 5-4 in a shootout at the 2026 NHL Prospect Challenge at Slush Puppie Centre on Sunday.

Nadeau, who signed with the Laval Rocket in March, found the back of the net in each period. The 22-year-old opened his account on the power play in the first period, sniped his second of the night on the man advantage in the middle frame, and completed his three-goal evening with a highlight-reel finish off an assist from Luke Mittelstadt in the final stanza.

Jean-Samuel Daigneault also tallied for the Habs rookies in regulation, while Aleksandr Legkov and Parker Trottier lit the lamp in the shootout.

Trailing 3-1 after 20 minutes of play, Montreal scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead early in the third period. Ottawa tied the game with 11 minutes remaining, sending the contest to overtime and eventually a shootout, where the Canadiens earned the edge.

Mikas Vecvanags made 26 saves on Sunday.

Montreal goals

P1 03:25 Nadeau (Trottier, Mittelstadt) – PPG

P2 09:47 Nadeau (Mittelstadt, Thorpe) - PPG

P3 01:37 Daigneault (Trottier)

P3 02:26 Nadeau (Mittelstadt)

Shootout

Ottawa goals

P1 00:37 Halttunen (Eliasson, Cover)
P1 17:39 Cover (Kyrou, Andonovski)
P1 19:57 Cover (Halttunen, Montgomery) – PPG
P3 09:00 Bakke Olsen (Montgomery, Cover)

The Canadiens’ annual golf tournament is set for Monday, before the prospects return to the CN Sports Complex to wrap up Canadiens Rookie Camp on Tuesday.