The Montreal Canadiens appeared to have Thursday’s game under control after building a two-goal advantage at Bell Centre. Instead, Nashville turned the contest around with five consecutive goals and escaped with a 5-2 victory.
Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook gave Montreal a strong start in the second period, but the Canadiens could not create enough separation before the Predators found their opening. Ryan O’Reilly’s power-play goal with 3:16 left in regulation completed the comeback and extended Montreal’s winless streak to three games.
A Two-Goal Lead Was Not Enough
Montreal dictated much of the play early. The Canadiens moved the puck effectively, spent long stretches in Nashville’s end and generated the kind of pressure that usually leads to a comfortable lead.
Suzuki opened the scoring at 3:12 of the second period during four-on-four action. The captain collected a loose puck near the net and converted before Nashville could clear the danger.
Newhook added another goal at 8:50 after finishing Josh Anderson’s setup. The sequence followed several minutes of sustained pressure, and the 2-0 margin suggested Montreal was ready to take control of the night.
That advantage, however, never grew. Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros kept the deficit manageable, and Montreal’s inability to add a third goal eventually allowed the Predators to stay within reach.
The Turning Point Arrived Before the Second Intermission
Nashville’s comeback began when Alexander Kerfoot cut the margin to 2-1 with 4:54 remaining in the second period. His deflection gave the Predators a much-needed spark and changed the atmosphere around the rink.
The damage became greater in the final minute of the period. Matthew Wood tied the game on a Nashville power play with only 32 seconds left before intermission.
For Montreal, the timing was especially painful. The Canadiens had spent much of the period dictating play, yet they entered the third period without the lead they had earned. Nashville, meanwhile, returned to the ice with renewed confidence.
A 2-0 game had become a fresh start for both teams, and the momentum was now clearly moving toward the visitors.
Missed Opportunities Kept Nashville Alive
Montreal had chances to regain control, but Saros repeatedly prevented the Canadiens from restoring their advantage. He finished with 32 saves on 34 shots and delivered his most important stop during a late third-period breakaway.
Anderson broke in alone with roughly eight minutes remaining and had a chance to put Montreal ahead 3-2. Saros stayed patient and turned the attempt aside with his left pad.
That save became a defining moment. Had Anderson scored, Montreal would have regained the lead and forced Nashville to chase the game. Instead, the Predators survived and soon received a power-play opportunity of their own.
The sequence illustrated the central difference between the teams. Montreal created several promising chances but did not finish them. Nashville found ways to convert when the game presented an opening.
Penalty Trouble Handed Nashville the Deciding Goal
Special teams ultimately shaped the result. Nashville scored twice with the man advantage, including both the second-period equalizer and the goal that put the Predators ahead.
With the teams tied late in the third, Mike Matheson was called for tripping Steven Stamkos. The penalty gave Nashville a critical opportunity at a moment when neither side had much room for error.
O’Reilly made Montreal pay with 3:16 remaining. He redirected Roman Josi’s point shot past Jacob Fowler to give Nashville its first lead of the game.
Montreal had controlled long stretches at even strength, but the penalty erased that advantage. Against a team receiving excellent goaltending, the Canadiens could not afford to offer Nashville repeated power-play chances.
Fowler Was Put in a Difficult Situation
Jacob Fowler made his first start of the season after Montreal recalled him from the Laval Rocket. The 21-year-old stepped into the lineup because Samuel Montembeault suffered a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s practice.
Fowler stopped 15 shots in the defeat. The final score does not fully represent his workload because Nashville scored two empty-net goals after Montreal pulled him in the closing minutes.
In practical terms, Fowler allowed three goals while playing in the net. Two of those goals came on Nashville power plays, including O’Reilly’s late winner.
That does not make Fowler’s performance flawless, but assigning the loss primarily to the young goaltender would overlook the larger issues. Montreal failed to protect its lead, took damaging penalties and did not capitalize on its best offensive chances.
Montembeault’s Status Adds Pressure
Montreal’s goaltending picture remains unsettled because the team had not established a clear timeline for Montembeault’s return. The injury occurred during the final drills of Wednesday’s practice, with reports indicating concern around his right leg or groin.
Fowler is not entirely new to NHL action. He appeared in 17 games last season and recorded a 9-6-2 record, a 2.43 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
Still, a possible increase in responsibility would arrive earlier than expected. If Montembeault remains unavailable, Fowler may have to handle important starts while Montreal attempts to stabilize a season that has already begun unevenly.
The best response from the Canadiens would be to reduce the pressure on their goaltender. Cleaner defensive coverage, fewer penalties and better rebound control would help regardless of who starts.
Suzuki Remains a Bright Spot
Suzuki’s goal provided another reminder of his importance to Montreal’s offense. The captain now has three goals early in the season and continues to supply reliable production near the opposing crease.
His opening goal came from an aggressive position around the net rather than from a low-percentage perimeter attempt. Montreal needs more plays of that kind, particularly when opposing goaltenders are seeing the puck well.
With injuries and lineup uncertainty affecting the team, Suzuki’s leadership will remain central. The Canadiens need him to keep driving the attack while the rest of the group learns to finish games more effectively.
Three Adjustments Before Detroit Arrives
Montreal will have little time to dwell on the collapse because the Detroit Red Wings are scheduled to visit Bell Centre on Saturday. The Canadiens’ response should focus on three practical corrections.
- Convert pressure into a larger lead. Possession and territorial control matter only when they produce goals. A two-goal advantage can disappear quickly, especially when the opposing goaltender is keeping the game close.
- Limit unnecessary penalties. Nashville’s tying and go-ahead goals came on the power play. Montreal must be more disciplined late in close games and avoid giving opponents high-value opportunities.
- Support the goaltender. Fowler, Montembeault or another option will need stronger defensive help. Clearing traffic, controlling rebounds and preventing extended penalty-kill shifts can keep small mistakes from becoming decisive.
The Defeat Revealed an Execution Problem
Montreal’s 1-2-1 record and three-game winless streak deserve attention, but Thursday’s result should not be interpreted as proof that the Canadiens were thoroughly outplayed. Nashville’s two empty-net goals made the margin appear more comfortable than the game itself was.
At five-on-five, Montreal was competitive and often dictated the action. The larger problem was that the Canadiens did not turn their best stretches into enough goals, then allowed Nashville to regain confidence through late-period scoring and power-play opportunities.
That combination is difficult to overcome. Strong teams close out games by extending leads, surviving momentum swings and executing when the margin is narrow. Montreal did not do those things on Thursday.
The loss therefore offers a clear lesson rather than an unsolvable mystery. The Canadiens need sharper finishing, stronger discipline and better support for their goaltender. Saturday’s matchup with Detroit will show whether they can apply those corrections immediately.
