Mark Stone and Cody Ceci each with three points as Senators top Canadiens 5-2

MONTREAL – Mark Stone and Cody Ceci each had a goal and two assists as the Ottawa Senators downed the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in NHL pre-season action Thursday night.

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Mike Hoffman, Clarke MacArthur and Patrick Wiercioch also scored for Ottawa, while Andrei Markov and Nathan Beaulieu had goals for Montreal.

The Canadiens outshot the Senators 43-21.

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The teams meet again Saturday night in Ottawa.

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Montreal’s Max Pacioretty, returning earlier than expected from a knee injury, wore the ‘C’ for the first time at the Bell Centre since being named captain at the start of training camp.

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The Canadiens scored on their first shot on Craig Anderson, a soft backhand from the right circle by Markov at 1:05.

A power play had just ended when Beaulieu crept in from the point on a back door play to convert a Pacioretty pass at 9:52.