(My Sportsbook) - The Ottawa Senators can't blame Saturday night's loss to Montreal on a lack of ample opportunities.

The Sens fired 48 shots at Canadiens' backup goaltender Jeff Hackett, but the savvy veteran was up to the task with 45 saves in a 5-3 Montreal victory. Hackett's night included a perfect 23-stop showing in the first period, and four breakaway saves.

Summing up Ottawa's frustrating evening is the fact that it found itself behind 2-1 after 40 minutes despite holding a 33-13 shot advantage at the second intermission.

"It was a tough loss, especially after the way we played in the first two periods," captain Daniel Alfredsson told the Ottawa Sun. "We had a lot of huge opportunities and Hackett was just unbelievable. We just couldn't get it home."

To their credit, the Senators, who had a four-game unbeaten streak snapped, didn't stop pressing and continued to pelt Hackett in the final period, even after Montreal jumped ahead 4-1 with two goals in a 1:36 span early on. Alfredsson and Wade Redden tallied for the Sens in the third, with Redden's power-play marker at 17:39 drawing them within a goal. However, the Habs' Yanic Perreault scored his second of the match only a minute later to replenish the lead.

Caught in the midst of the Senators' frustration was 19-year-old center Jason Spezza, who played in his second National Hockey League game after getting called up on Wednesday. He fired four shots on Hackett but came away empty.

"It just seemed like there was invisible glass in front of that net," said Spezza, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2001 Entry Draft. "We had so many chances and we just couldn't get them in. Everything we shot, he was able to make the save on."

Spezza picked up his first NHL point in Thursday's 2-2 tie in Boston with an assist on Marian Hossa's third-period power-play goal. Saturday he told the Sun that he is already beginning to enter his comfort zone on big league ice.

"The good thing is I felt pretty comfortable out there," Spezza said. "I'm definitely more relaxed and the time I spent in the minors has helped me develop my game. Hopefully, it's enough that they'll keep me more here and give me the chance."

Spezza's call-up from Binghamton of the American Hockey League was necessary after top-line centerman Radek Bonk suffered a chest injury in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over Carolina. Bonk is listed as day-to-day

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The Sens cap off a three-game road trek Tuesday in Philadelphia before hosting Pittsburgh the following night.