The Montreal Canadiens appeared ready to control Thursday night’s matchup at Bell Centre. They created sustained pressure, moved ahead 2-0 and spent long stretches dictating play against the Nashville Predators.
That promising start ultimately produced no reward. Nashville scored five consecutive goals, including Ryan O’Reilly’s late power-play marker, and escaped with a 5-2 victory. The result extended Montreal’s winless run to three games and left the Canadiens with a 1-2-1 record.
A Strong Start Was Undercut by Missed Opportunities
Montreal’s opening performance did not resemble that of a team destined to lose by three goals. The Canadiens controlled the puck, established possession in Nashville’s zone and created the more dangerous sequences at even strength.
Nick Suzuki put Montreal ahead 3:12 into the second period during four-on-four action. The captain found a loose puck near the crease and slipped a backhand through Juuse Saros. Alex Newhook then doubled the lead at 8:50, finishing Josh Anderson’s setup after another extended shift in the Predators’ end.
The two-goal advantage should have given Montreal room to manage the game. Instead, the Canadiens allowed Nashville to remain close. Their pressure produced chances, but the finishing touch never arrived often enough to make the lead decisive.
Saros was a major reason the game stayed within reach. He turned aside 32 of Montreal’s 34 shots, including several opportunities created during the Canadiens’ best stretches.
The statistical imbalance made the defeat especially frustrating. Nashville managed only 18 shots, while Montreal finished with 34, yet the Predators made their limited opportunities matter more.
The Late Second Period Sent the Game in the Other Direction
Nashville’s comeback began when Alexander Kerfoot redirected a point shot past Jacob Fowler with 4:54 left in the second period. The goal reduced Montreal’s lead to 2-1 and gave the visitors a reason to believe they could recover.
The equalizer arrived at an even more damaging moment. Matthew Wood scored on the power play with only 32 seconds remaining in the period, sending the teams into the intermission tied 2-2.
Montreal had controlled much of the night, but the scoreboard no longer reflected that advantage. A team that could have carried a comfortable lead into the third period instead had to begin the final frame from level ground.
That change affected the game’s emotional balance as much as its score. Nashville gained confidence, while Montreal had to process how quickly a favorable night had become a contested one.
Three Moments That Defined Montreal’s Collapse
- Failure to expand the lead: Montreal generated enough pressure to create separation but did not convert enough of its chances before Nashville began its comeback.
- The late tying goal: Wood’s power-play goal with 32 seconds left in the second period erased Montreal’s two-goal advantage at the worst possible time.
- A costly third-period penalty: Mike Matheson’s tripping penalty against Steven Stamkos gave Nashville the opportunity it needed to take control late in regulation.
These moments were connected. Montreal’s inability to finish left the game vulnerable to one swing. The late second-period goals created pressure, and the third-period penalty supplied Nashville with the decisive opening.
Special Teams Made the Difference
Nashville won the most important battle of the night on special teams. The Predators scored twice with the man advantage, first to tie the game and later to take the lead.
With 3:16 remaining in regulation, O’Reilly redirected Roman Josi’s point shot past Fowler. The play gave Nashville its first lead and completed the most important part of the comeback.
Montreal’s penalty came at an especially poor time. The game was tied, the Canadiens had already surrendered momentum and every remaining shift carried increased importance. Giving Nashville a power play in that situation made the margin for error even smaller.
The Canadiens went 0-for-3 on their own power-play chances. Against a goaltender playing as well as Saros, Montreal needed its special-teams unit to create a breakthrough. Instead, Nashville found two of them.
The lesson is not that Montreal must dominate every power play. It is that close games often turn on one or two special-teams sequences, and the Canadiens did not win those sequences Thursday.
Anderson’s Breakaway Could Have Changed the Ending
Montreal still had an opportunity to reclaim control before O’Reilly’s goal. With roughly eight minutes remaining, Anderson broke in alone against Saros.
A successful finish would have restored a 3-2 Canadiens lead and shifted the pressure back onto Nashville. Saros instead made a crucial left-pad save, preserving the tie.
That stop became one of the game’s clearest turning points. Nashville survived a dangerous chance, and Montreal never found another goal. A few minutes later, the Predators converted their power play and moved ahead for good.
The sequence illustrated the difference between the teams. Montreal had the chance to change the game but could not complete the play. Nashville received its defining opportunity and executed.
Fowler Was Not the Main Reason for the Defeat
Jacob Fowler made his first start of the season after being recalled from the Laval Rocket. He stopped 15 shots, while Nashville’s final two goals came into an empty net after Montreal pulled him during the late push.
Fowler therefore allowed three goals while actually playing in the net. The circumstances were difficult for a 21-year-old goaltender making a start on short notice, particularly because Nashville’s most important goal came on a screened and redirected power-play shot.
The final score may make the performance appear worse than it was. Fowler will likely want to review parts of the game, but the larger issues involved Montreal’s lack of finishing, its penalty trouble and its inability to protect a two-goal lead.
That does not mean the goaltending situation is insignificant. Samuel Montembeault sustained a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s practice, and there was no clear timetable for his return at the time of Thursday’s game.
Fowler has previous NHL experience. Last season, he appeared in 17 games and recorded a 9-6-2 record, a 2.43 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. If Montembeault remains unavailable, Fowler could be asked to handle a significant workload earlier than Montreal expected.
Saros Gave Nashville the Patience It Needed
Montreal’s inability to create a larger cushion was partly a product of Saros’ performance. He did not merely make routine saves; he repeatedly stopped chances that could have turned the game into a much larger Canadiens lead.
His save on Anderson was especially valuable because it came when Nashville was still searching for its first third-period goal. By denying that breakaway, Saros allowed the Predators to remain tied until their power play delivered the winning goal.
Strong goaltending can change the way a team experiences a game. Nashville did not need to match Montreal’s territorial control for 60 minutes because Saros kept the deficit manageable. Once the Predators created momentum, their goaltender had already given them the foundation for a comeback.
The Empty-Net Goals Distorted the Final Score
Adam Edstrom added two empty-net goals late in the game, transforming a one-goal contest into a 5-2 result.
That detail matters when evaluating Montreal’s performance. The Canadiens were not three goals worse than Nashville throughout regulation, and the final margin does not accurately describe the balance of five-on-five play.
Montreal controlled long portions of the matchup and held a 2-0 lead. The defeat came from execution rather than complete territorial domination by the Predators.
Still, the empty-net goals cannot erase the mistakes that put Montreal in that position. The Canadiens needed to convert more of their early chances, avoid the late penalties and protect their advantage after taking control.
Suzuki’s Goal Was One of the Few Bright Spots
Suzuki provided an encouraging individual moment by scoring Montreal’s first goal. The captain now has three goals early in the season, and his willingness to attack the area around the crease remains valuable to the Canadiens’ offense.
Montreal needs that kind of direct play from Suzuki consistently. When the game becomes difficult, the Canadiens cannot rely only on perimeter possession or extended shifts. They need players willing to attack loose pucks and create immediate danger near the net.
Newhook also finished a strong sequence to score Montreal’s second goal, but the offense went quiet afterward. The team must find a way to sustain that attacking intent beyond its initial surge.
What Must Change Before Detroit Visits
The Canadiens have an immediate chance to respond when the Detroit Red Wings visit Bell Centre on Saturday. The next game should not be treated as a referendum on the entire season, but it can reveal whether Montreal learned from Thursday’s collapse.
Turn Possession Into Separation
Montreal cannot assume that controlling the puck will eventually produce a win. When an opponent is struggling to generate offense, the Canadiens must take advantage by building a lead that is harder to erase.
A 2-0 advantage can disappear quickly in the modern NHL. Montreal needs more traffic at the net, better finishes on breakaways and greater urgency when high-quality chances appear.
Reduce Avoidable Penalties
The Canadiens surrendered the tying and winning goals on the penalty kill. Some penalties are unavoidable, but a late infraction in a tied game can completely change the result.
Better discipline would not guarantee victory, but it would reduce the number of opportunities opponents receive in the most sensitive moments of a game.
Support the Goaltender
Montreal’s skaters must make the job easier for Fowler or whoever starts against Detroit. Cleaner breakouts, fewer penalties, stronger coverage in front and better rebound control can protect a young or overworked goaltender.
If Montembeault misses time, the Canadiens cannot expect their netminder to solve every problem alone. Team defense will become increasingly important while the injury situation develops.
A Frustrating Loss With a Clear Lesson
Montreal’s record is now 1-2-1, and the team has gone three games without a win. That record deserves attention, but it does not yet justify panic, especially after a game in which the Canadiens controlled so much of the play.
The more meaningful concern is whether Montreal can learn to close out games it has positioned itself to win. Thursday’s team had enough pressure, enough chances and enough early structure to earn two points. It lacked the finishing, discipline and late-game execution required to secure them.
Nashville’s comeback showed how quickly a favorable matchup can change. Saros protected the Predators, special teams supplied the decisive goals and O’Reilly finished the key opportunity. Montreal now has to produce the opposite response against Detroit: convert its chances, stay composed and make an early lead count.
