The Montreal Canadiens appeared to have Thursday’s game under control after building a 2-0 advantage over the Nashville Predators. Instead, the visitors scored five consecutive goals and walked out of the Bell Centre 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. The defeat was not caused by one isolated mistake. Missed scoring chances, late-period breakdowns, special-teams issues and a difficult goaltending situation all contributed to the collapse.
A Strong Start Did Not Become a Decisive Lead
Montreal controlled much of the opening half of the game. The Canadiens moved the puck effectively, spent extended stretches in Nashville’s end and created more sustained pressure than the Predators.
Nick Suzuki finally opened the scoring 3:12 into the second period during four-on-four play. The Montreal captain found a loose puck near the crease and finished the opportunity past Juuse Saros.
Alex Newhook extended the lead to 2-0 at the 8:50 mark. Josh Anderson created the chance with a strong feed after Montreal had kept Nashville pinned in its own zone.
At that point, the Canadiens looked like the more confident team. The crowd was engaged, Nashville was struggling to generate offense and Montreal seemed close to taking complete control.
The problem was that the Canadiens never added a third goal. Their advantage remained vulnerable, and Saros continued to give Nashville a chance to recover.
Nashville’s Late-Period Surge Reversed the Momentum
The game changed rapidly during the final minutes of the second period. Alex Kerfoot cut Nashville’s deficit to 2-1 with 4:54 remaining, redirecting a shot from the point beyond Jacob Fowler.
That goal gave the Predators belief, but the most damaging moment arrived just before intermission. Matthew Wood scored on the power play with only 32 seconds left in the period, bringing Nashville level at 2-2.
Montreal had spent much of the night dictating play, yet the teams entered the third period tied. The Canadiens lost the psychological benefit of their early lead, while Nashville gained confidence from scoring twice in a short span.
Those goals also exposed Montreal’s inability to protect a favorable game state. A team can survive an opponent’s pressure more easily when it carries a three- or four-goal cushion. A two-goal lead, however, requires clean defensive work and disciplined special teams.
Missed Chances Kept the Door Open
Montreal had several opportunities to restore its lead after Nashville tied the game. The clearest came with roughly eight minutes left in regulation, when Anderson broke in alone against Saros.
A successful finish would have put the Canadiens ahead 3-2 and potentially changed the entire ending. Saros stayed with the play and stopped Anderson with his left pad, preserving the tie.
That save became one of the night’s defining moments. Montreal did not convert the chance, and Nashville soon received the opportunity it needed.
Saros finished with 32 saves on 34 shots, repeatedly preventing Montreal from turning territorial control into separation. The Canadiens generated enough pressure to win, but they did not capitalize often enough when their best chances appeared.
This was the central difference between the teams. Montreal created opportunities without finishing them, while Nashville made its important chances count.
Special Teams Put the Predators Ahead
With the score tied late in the third period, Mike Matheson was called for tripping Steven Stamkos. The penalty gave Nashville a crucial power play at exactly the wrong time for Montreal.
Ryan O’Reilly converted with 3:16 remaining, redirecting Roman Josi’s point shot past Fowler to give the Predators their first lead of the night.
The goal was especially damaging because it came after Montreal had already survived a long stretch of pressure and still had a realistic chance to win. Instead, one penalty created the opening Nashville had been waiting for.
The Predators scored twice with the man advantage, including Wood’s tying goal and O’Reilly’s winner. Montreal did not produce a comparable special-teams response.
Close games are frequently decided by penalties and power plays. Montreal’s five-on-five performance was competitive, but its discipline and penalty killing did not hold up when the margin for error became smallest.
Fowler’s First Start Was Not the Main Problem
Jacob Fowler received the start after Samuel Montembeault left practice Wednesday with a lower-body injury. Montreal recalled Fowler from the Laval Rocket, and the 21-year-old was asked to step into an important game on short notice.
Fowler stopped 15 shots in the defeat. The final score may suggest a poor night in net, but two of Nashville’s five goals came into an empty net after Montreal pulled its goaltender.
Fowler therefore allowed three goals while playing at five-on-five and on Nashville’s power plays. The winning goal also came during a penalty kill, after Matheson’s infraction put the Predators in position to attack.
That does not mean Fowler was flawless. A young goaltender making his first start of the season will naturally have plays he would like to handle differently. Still, the larger causes of the defeat were Montreal’s lack of finishing, its late penalty and its inability to protect the lead.
The goaltending situation remains significant because there was no immediate timeline for Montembeault’s return. Fowler already has NHL experience, recording a 9-6-2 record, a 2.43 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in 17 appearances last season. Even so, an extended absence for Montembeault could force Montreal to rely on Fowler sooner and more heavily than planned.
The 5-2 Score Makes the Game Look More Lopsided
Adam Edstrom scored twice into an empty net during the final minutes, transforming a one-goal game into a three-goal Nashville victory. The scoreline therefore does not fully describe the balance of play.
Montreal was not overwhelmed for 60 minutes. The Canadiens controlled long portions of the game, took a 2-0 lead and produced enough offensive pressure to remain competitive. Their failure came in the details that decide tight NHL contests.
They needed to create a larger cushion while Nashville was struggling. They needed to avoid penalties late in the game. They needed to finish Anderson’s breakaway. They also needed to respond more effectively once the Predators tied the score.
Those shortcomings are frustrating, but they are correctable. The Canadiens do not need to rebuild their entire approach after this performance. They need better execution when they have control.
Montreal’s Immediate Test Comes Against Detroit
The Canadiens will have little time to dwell on the loss, with the Detroit Red Wings scheduled to visit the Bell Centre on Saturday.
Montreal’s first priority should be converting pressure into a more comfortable lead. Possession and zone time are valuable only when they produce goals, particularly against a goaltender capable of keeping his team in the game.
Discipline must also improve. Nashville’s tying and winning goals both came on the power play, making Montreal’s penalty trouble impossible to ignore.
Finally, the Canadiens need to support whichever goaltender starts. Better puck management, fewer penalties, cleaner rebounds and reduced traffic around the crease would make the assignment easier for Fowler or any replacement for Montembeault.
Suzuki remains one encouraging sign. His goal gave him three early in the season and showed the aggressive net-front play Montreal needs from its captain. The Canadiens will require that leadership again against Detroit.
Thursday’s loss should not create panic at 1-2-1, but it should serve as a clear lesson. Montreal played well enough to win, yet failed to close the game when the opportunity was there. The next step for this young team is learning how to turn control into results before another promising performance slips away.