The Montreal Canadiens appeared to have Thursday’s game under control after taking a 2-0 lead at Bell Centre. Instead, Nashville scored five consecutive goals and completed a 5-2 comeback, leaving Montreal winless in three straight games with a 1-2-1 record.
The defeat was not the result of constant domination by the Predators. Montreal created more pressure, outshot Nashville 34-18 and controlled long stretches at five-on-five. The difference came from finishing, special teams and goaltending at crucial moments.
The Game Changed After Montreal Built Its Lead
Nick Suzuki opened the scoring 3:12 into the second period during four-on-four play. He found a loose puck near the crease and beat Juuse Saros with a backhand shot for his third goal of the season.
Montreal kept attacking and doubled its advantage at 8:50. Josh Anderson created the opportunity behind the Nashville net before feeding Alex Newhook, who finished from close range.
At that point, the Canadiens had the energy of the building and the territorial advantage. Nashville struggled to generate sustained offense, while Montreal repeatedly established possession in the Predators’ zone.
The problem was that Montreal never added a third goal. That left Nashville within reach, even during stretches when the Canadiens looked like the stronger team.
| Category | Montreal | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 2 | 5 |
| Shots on goal | 34 | 18 |
| Power-play goals | 0 | 2 |
| Goaltender saves | Jacob Fowler: 15 | Juuse Saros: 32 |
| Consecutive goals | None after Newhook’s goal | Five unanswered |
Missed Chances Kept the Predators Alive
Juuse Saros was the main reason Nashville remained in the game. He stopped 32 of Montreal’s 34 shots and repeatedly denied chances that could have turned the contest into a comfortable Canadiens victory.
His biggest save came late in the third period. Josh Anderson broke in alone with Montreal still searching for the go-ahead goal, but Saros moved across and stopped the attempt with his left pad.
A successful finish would have restored Montreal’s lead at 3-2. Instead, Nashville survived the threat and soon received the opportunity that decided the night.
The sequence exposed Montreal’s central weakness: strong possession and frequent offensive-zone pressure meant little without enough finishing touch. Nashville needed fewer chances, but it converted when the game demanded it.
Two Late Second-Period Goals Erased the Advantage
Alexander Kerfoot began the turnaround with 4:54 remaining in the second period. He redirected a shot through traffic and cut Montreal’s lead to 2-1.
The goal gave Nashville momentum, but the equalizer was even more damaging. Matthew Wood scored on the power play with only 32 seconds left in the period, sending the teams into the intermission tied 2-2.
Montreal had spent much of the period dictating play. Rather than carrying a two-goal advantage into the third, the Canadiens had to begin again from level ground.
Late-period goals can affect more than the scoreboard. They change bench confidence, alter the atmosphere in the building and give the trailing team belief. Nashville entered the final period with all three advantages.
- Montreal’s 2-0 lead disappeared before the second intermission.
- Nashville scored its tying goal with less than a minute remaining in the period.
- The Predators gained confidence without needing to dominate at even strength.
Special Teams Decided a Close Contest
Nashville’s power play delivered twice, first on Wood’s tying goal and later on Ryan O’Reilly’s winner. Montreal, meanwhile, went 0-for-3 with the man advantage and failed to create the same type of decisive moment.
Mike Matheson’s tripping penalty against Steven Stamkos proved especially costly late in regulation. With 3:16 remaining, Roman Josi sent a shot toward the net, and O’Reilly redirected it past Jacob Fowler to give Nashville its first lead.
The goal was a sharp example of how quickly a tight game can turn. Montreal had already missed a chance to regain the advantage, then put Nashville’s most dangerous situation on the ice: a late power play with the score tied.
Discipline will be a major focus before Saturday’s meeting with Detroit. Montreal does not need to avoid every penalty, but it must prevent avoidable infractions from creating game-changing opportunities.
Fowler’s Debut Was More Difficult Than the Final Score Suggests
Jacob Fowler made his first start of the season after being recalled from Laval when Samuel Montembeault suffered a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s practice. Fowler stopped 15 shots in the loss.
The final score does not fully represent his performance. Nashville’s last two goals came into an empty net after Montreal pulled Fowler, meaning he allowed three goals while actually playing in the crease.
He also faced important shots during Nashville’s power plays, including the deflection that gave the Predators their late lead. Assigning the entire defeat to a young goaltender making a short-notice start would overlook the larger problems in front of him.
Montembeault’s recovery timeline remained unclear, making Fowler’s role a significant issue for the Canadiens. Fowler is not entirely inexperienced at the NHL level: he appeared in 17 games last season and posted a 9-6-2 record, a 2.43 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
If Montembeault remains unavailable, Fowler may have to handle meaningful starts earlier than Montreal planned. The team can help him by limiting penalties, clearing rebounds and reducing traffic around the crease.
The 5-2 Score Hides a Competitive Performance
Adam Edstrom’s two empty-net goals made the margin look far more decisive than the game had been. Before those scores, Nashville led by one goal in the closing minutes.
Montreal was not thoroughly outplayed. The Canadiens had the larger shot total, created the better early pressure and established a two-goal advantage. Their failure came in the details that determine close games.
- They did not extend the lead while Nashville was struggling.
- They allowed the Predators to score twice late in the second period.
- They failed to convert their own power-play chances.
- They took a costly late penalty.
- They could not finish Anderson’s breakaway opportunity.
Those mistakes are frustrating, but they are correctable. Montreal’s challenge is to turn territorial control into a margin that can withstand one bad shift, one penalty or one outstanding save.
What Montreal Must Change Against Detroit
The Canadiens return to Bell Centre on Saturday to face the Detroit Red Wings. The matchup offers an immediate opportunity to respond, but the response must involve more than simply creating offense.
Convert Pressure Into Separation
Montreal needs to make opposing goaltenders work harder when chances appear around the crease. A 2-0 lead can disappear quickly in the NHL, particularly when the team holding it stops adding pressure to the scoreboard.
Use the Power Play More Effectively
Special teams cannot be an afterthought in games decided by one goal. Montreal must generate shots through screens, move the puck faster and create the type of net-front pressure that Nashville produced.
Protect the Team in Front of the Net
Whether Fowler starts again or another option takes over, Montreal’s skaters must make the job easier. Better penalty discipline and stronger defensive coverage would reduce the number of high-pressure situations facing the goaltender.
Keep Suzuki at the Center of the Attack
Suzuki’s opening goal was a positive sign. His willingness to attack loose pucks and work around the crease gave Montreal the kind of direct offense it needed throughout the game.
The captain now has three goals early in the season, and Montreal will need that production to continue while injuries affect the lineup.
A Valuable Warning Despite the Disappointing Result
Thursday’s loss should not create panic after only four games. Still, it offered a clear lesson about the difference between playing well and closing out a victory.
Montreal had the lead, the crowd and the territorial advantage. Nashville had Saros, stronger special teams and better execution when the decisive moments arrived.
For a young Canadiens group, learning to finish games like this may matter as much as generating chances in the first place. Saturday’s game against Detroit will show whether Montreal can turn that lesson into a better result.