The Montreal Canadiens appeared headed toward a convincing home victory Thursday night. They built a two-goal advantage, controlled much of the play and created enough offensive pressure to make the Nashville Predators uncomfortable.
That promising performance unraveled before the final horn. Nashville scored five consecutive goals, including Ryan O’Reilly’s late power-play marker, and left the Bell Centre with a 5-2 win.
The result extended Montreal’s winless run to three games and moved the Canadiens to 1-2-1 early in the season. More frustratingly, the loss came in a game Montreal had every opportunity to finish.
A Strong Start Produced Only a Small Lead
Montreal established control early by spending long stretches in Nashville’s zone. The Canadiens moved the puck effectively, pressured the Predators’ defenders and generated the majority of the meaningful chances.
Nick Suzuki finally opened the scoring during four-on-four play. He recovered a loose puck near the Nashville crease and lifted it past Juuse Saros, giving Montreal the breakthrough it had been working toward.
Alex Newhook doubled the advantage midway through the second period. Josh Anderson created the opportunity with a well-timed feed, and Newhook finished the play to make it 2-0.
The building was energized, while Nashville struggled to create sustained offensive momentum. Montreal looked like the faster and more assertive team.
Yet the Canadiens could not add a third goal. That failure left the Predators within reach, even though Montreal had controlled the game for much of the night.
Three Turning Points That Changed the Outcome
- Alexander Kerfoot’s goal: With 4:54 remaining in the second period, Kerfoot redirected a shot from the point past Jacob Fowler and cut Montreal’s lead to 2-1.
- Matthew Wood’s late equalizer: Nashville tied the game on the power play with only 32 seconds left in the second period, erasing Montreal’s momentum just before intermission.
- Josh Anderson’s missed breakaway: Anderson went in alone with roughly eight minutes left in regulation, but Saros denied him with his left pad before Nashville seized the lead.
The second-period goals were especially damaging. Montreal had looked comfortable at 2-0, but Kerfoot’s deflection gave Nashville belief. Wood’s power-play goal then sent the teams to the dressing room tied at 2-2.
Instead of protecting a lead through the third period, Montreal had to restart the game against a Predators group that suddenly believed a comeback was possible.
Missed Chances Kept Nashville Alive
Montreal did not lack opportunities. The Canadiens generated enough pressure to build a much larger margin, but Saros repeatedly prevented the game from getting away from Nashville.
The Predators goaltender stopped 32 of Montreal’s 34 shots. His saves allowed Nashville to remain close during stretches when the Canadiens were controlling possession and creating the more dangerous looks.
That difference became obvious after Anderson’s breakaway. A successful finish would have restored Montreal’s lead at 3-2 and forced Nashville to chase the game again. Instead, Saros made the save, and the score remained tied.
Within minutes, Montreal’s inability to convert became even more costly. The Canadiens had controlled enough of the night to win, but they did not capitalize during their best moments.
Possession and territorial pressure matter, but they cannot replace finishing. Against a goaltender playing as well as Saros, every missed chance gives the opponent another chance to survive.
Special Teams Turned a Close Game Against Montreal
Discipline became another major factor. Nashville’s equalizer came during a late second-period power play, and the Predators later used another man advantage to take their first lead.
With the game still tied in the third period, Mike Matheson was penalized for tripping Steven Stamkos. Nashville needed only one effective sequence to punish the mistake.
At 3:16 of the third period, Ryan O’Reilly redirected Roman Josi’s point shot past Fowler. The goal gave Nashville a 3-2 advantage and marked the first time the Predators had led.
Montreal’s own power play could not provide a matching response. In a tight game, that special-teams disparity was decisive. Nashville converted when its chances arrived, while Montreal failed to create the same impact.
The Canadiens do not need to dominate every power-play opportunity, but they must find timely production when five-on-five play is not enough to separate the teams. Thursday’s game offered several such opportunities, and Montreal came away empty.
Jacob Fowler Faced a Difficult Assignment
Thursday also marked Jacob Fowler’s first NHL start of the season. The 21-year-old was recalled from the Laval Rocket after Samuel Montembeault suffered a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s practice.
Fowler stopped 15 shots in the defeat. The final score may look harsh for a starting goaltender, but two of Nashville’s goals came into an empty net after Montreal pulled him late.
Fowler therefore surrendered three goals while actually defending the crease. He also faced difficult situations when Nashville received power-play opportunities.
That context makes it unreasonable to place the defeat entirely on the young goaltender. Fowler may want certain moments back, but Montreal’s larger problems involved missed chances, penalties and an inability to protect its lead.
His unexpected start did, however, expose a developing concern for the Canadiens. There is no clear timetable for Montembeault’s return, so Fowler could be asked to handle important minutes sooner than Montreal planned.
Fowler is not completely inexperienced at the NHL level. 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. Still, relying on him for an extended stretch would create a different challenge from using him as an emergency option.
The 5-2 Score Needs Context
Adam Edstrom’s two empty-net goals in the closing minutes transformed a one-goal game into a three-goal result. The final margin therefore exaggerates how thoroughly Nashville outplayed Montreal.
At five-on-five, the Canadiens were competitive and often looked like the better team. They were not three goals inferior for the full sixty minutes, nor were they dominated from start to finish.
The issue was execution at key moments:
- Montreal did not extend its lead after taking control.
- The Canadiens allowed Nashville to score twice late in the second period.
- Penalty trouble gave the Predators critical power-play opportunities.
- Anderson’s breakaway chance went unfinished.
- Montreal could not answer after O’Reilly’s go-ahead goal.
Those are correctable problems, but they are also the kinds of details that decide close NHL games. A team can play well for long stretches and still lose if it does not manage the critical sequences.
Suzuki Offers One of the Bright Spots
Nick Suzuki continued to provide an important offensive spark. His opening goal gave Montreal its initial advantage, and he now has three goals early in the season.
The captain’s willingness to attack the area around the crease was particularly encouraging. Montreal needs more goals created through direct, assertive play near the net, especially when opposing goaltenders are seeing the puck clearly from distance.
Suzuki remains central to the Canadiens’ offensive identity. With injuries affecting the roster, his ability to generate offense and lead the group will be especially valuable when Montreal faces Detroit.
Montreal Has an Immediate Test Against Detroit
The Canadiens will not have much time to dwell on the collapse. The Detroit Red Wings visit the Bell Centre on Saturday, giving Montreal a quick opportunity to respond.
Three adjustments should receive immediate attention:
- Convert pressure into separation: A two-goal lead can disappear quickly, so Montreal must take advantage when it has sustained control.
- Limit avoidable penalties: Nashville’s tying and winning goals both came on the power play, making discipline a direct priority.
- Support the goaltender: Whether Fowler starts again or Montreal uses another option, cleaner defensive coverage, fewer penalties and better rebound control would reduce the pressure on the crease.
Montreal also needs to preserve the positive elements from Thursday. The Canadiens moved the puck well, created chances and played with enough pace to control large portions of the game.
The goal is not to rebuild the entire approach after one defeat. It is to add the finishing and discipline that were missing when the game began to turn.
A Frustrating Loss, Not a Season-Defining Crisis
A 1-2-1 record and a three-game winless stretch deserve attention, but they do not justify panic this early in the schedule. Thursday’s defeat was more frustrating than discouraging because Montreal demonstrated that it could control the matchup.
The Canadiens led 2-0, created more chances and dictated play for long stretches. They still left without a point because Nashville executed more effectively during the decisive moments.
That distinction matters for a young team. Playing well is only the first step; closing out games requires timely scoring, disciplined defending and reliable special teams.
Saturday’s meeting with Detroit provides an immediate chance for Montreal to show that Thursday’s collapse was a lesson rather than the beginning of a pattern.
