A three-goal lead vanishes in Nashville, Manitoba gears up for a trade fight with Washington, and the Sens lean into inclusivity with a jersey you might recognize from TV. Let’s get into it.
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Quick Ottawa weather check: sunny, with a high of -20 and a low of -33 degrees celsius.
Let’s start with the Ottawa Senators, because the story of the week is momentum—how fast it can swing and how costly it’s been. Ottawa has blown a multi-goal lead three times in the last four games. The latest gut-punch came in Nashville: a 3-0 lead evaporated, and Steven Stamkos completed a hat trick, burying the winner with just over two minutes left as the Predators roared back 5-3. Roman Josi marked his 1,000th NHL game and chipped in on the tying goal, and Ottawa’s penalty kill again cracked at the worst possible moments. If there’s a theme to this season’s slide, it’s the inability to manage waves in-game—one bad shift, one penalty, and the dam seems to burst. There were bright spots: Stephen Halliday netted his first NHL goal on the trip. But as the standings tighten, the Sens’ core needs that next step in maturity, especially when the bench gets short and the pressure spikes.
Down the road in Belleville, the AHL Senators are showing the opposite trend: composure. They’re riding a six-game point streak—11 points over that stretch—after an extra-frame win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Now comes a real measuring stick: two on the road against the Providence Bruins, one of the AHL’s best at 27-8-1-0 with a hefty +46 goal differential. Stephen Halliday was briefly up with the big club but returned to Belleville and kept producing—one goal and seven points in five games at the AHL level. The challenge: injuries. Forwards Jake Chiasson, Olle Lycksell, and Philippe Daoust are out, and Tyler Boucher’s status is uncertain after a recent knock. If Belleville can bank points against Providence, it’ll say a lot about their Calder Cup credentials.
A quick feel-good local item: the Ottawa Senators are leaning into the popularity of the TV series Heated Rivalry by selling specialty Hollander and Rozanov jerseys. Net proceeds go to Ottawa Pride Hockey to support inclusivity at the grassroots level. It’s a fan-driven move, and the team’s existing relationship with Ottawa Pride Hockey helped get the donation effort off the ground fast.
To national politics and foreign affairs: Ottawa’s pushing back on Donald Trump’s latest NATO remarks. The former U.S. president suggested that non-U.S. NATO allies weren’t on the front line in Afghanistan and questioned whether the U.S. ever truly needed allied support. Canadian officials and veterans are having none of it. Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne emphasized that history can’t be rewritten, pointing to the sacrifice of allied troops, including 158 Canadians who lost their lives in Afghanistan. Defence Minister David McGuinty echoed that message, saying comments that erase the record of Canada and its partners undermine real contributions made over two decades of conflict.
There’s another Trump-Canada flashpoint this week tied to China. Trump criticized Canada’s fresh trade engagement with Beijing and even claimed Canada opposed a so-called “Golden Dome” over Greenland—arguing it would protect Canada. He went further, saying the China-Canada deal would lead to China “devouring” Canada within a year. Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back, saying Canada does not exist thanks to the United States. Trump, for his part, revoked an invitation for Carney to join his “Council of Peace.” Meanwhile, Carney’s recent trip to China produced agreements on electric vehicles and canola—deals that could touch everything from Prairie exports to Ontario’s growing EV ecosystem. We’ll track what, if anything, lands in the fine print and how it might affect jobs and supply chains here at home.
Speaking of cross-border economics, Manitoba is getting its ducks in a row ahead of the next CUSMA round. The province convened a U.S. trade council to prep for negotiations, hoping to harden its position and protect its interests before talks heat up. For Ottawa businesses that sell into the U.S., this is a reminder: provinces aren’t waiting around to define their priorities.
On the political chessboard: in Quebec, Economy Minister Christine Fréchette says she’ll run for the CAQ leadership and aims to be the next premier. Federally, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre won’t run in Battle River–Crowfoot next election; Damien Kurek has reclaimed that nomination. In Toronto, Dr. Danielle Martin—chair of U of T’s family medicine—has emerged as a preferred Liberal candidate for an upcoming byelection. And here at home, Alex Lawson, a homebuilder with notable political backing, plans to run for Ottawa mayor with a platform centered on housing and public safety—two issues carving up most local budgets and council debates.
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