The Montreal Canadiens appeared to have Thursday’s game under control after building a two-goal advantage at Bell Centre. Instead, Nashville scored five consecutive goals and completed a 5-2 comeback, leaving Montreal winless in three straight games and sitting at 1-2-1 early in the season.
The result was especially frustrating because the Canadiens were not outplayed for most of the night. Montreal created sustained pressure, spent long stretches in the Predators’ zone and generated enough chances to establish a much larger cushion. The collapse came from a combination of missed opportunities, untimely penalties, strong goaltending by Juuse Saros and a difficult third-period sequence.
A Strong Start Produced Too Little Separation
Montreal’s best stretches came before Nashville found its rhythm. The Canadiens moved the puck effectively, won battles around the boards and repeatedly forced the Predators to defend in their own end.
Nick Suzuki finally opened the scoring 3:12 into the second period during four-on-four play. He located a loose puck near the crease and slipped a backhand shot through Saros for his third goal of the season.
Montreal kept attacking after taking the lead. At 8:50 of the period, Alex Newhook finished Josh Anderson’s setup to make it 2-0 after another extended shift in Nashville territory.
That was the moment when Montreal needed to push the game toward a decisive advantage. Instead, the Canadiens allowed Nashville to remain close enough for one goal to change the mood of the game.
The warning signs were already visible. Montreal had possession and territorial control, but Saros continued to stop the chances that would have turned pressure into a three- or four-goal lead.
The Turning Point Arrived Before the Second Intermission
Nashville’s comeback began with 4:54 left in the second period. Alexander Kerfoot redirected a point shot past Jacob Fowler, cutting Montreal’s lead to 2-1.
The goal gave the Predators renewed energy, but the most damaging moment came even later. With only 32 seconds remaining in the period, Matthew Wood scored on the power play to tie the game.
Montreal had gone from leading comfortably to entering the third period even with Nashville. The timing mattered as much as the goal itself. Rather than carrying confidence into the intermission, the Canadiens had to absorb a late equalizer and prepare for a fresh game.
Two defensive details made the sequence more costly:
- Montreal failed to create enough separation while it controlled play.
- The Canadiens gave Nashville a power-play opportunity at the worst possible time.
- The late tying goal allowed the Predators to begin the third period with momentum.
Against an experienced team with a goaltender playing well, those small margins can quickly become the entire story.
Saros Kept Nashville Within Reach
Juuse Saros was the main reason Nashville remained alive long enough to mount its comeback. He turned aside 32 of Montreal’s 34 shots and consistently prevented the Canadiens from converting their best possessions into goals.
Montreal’s attack was not empty. The Canadiens created traffic, generated rebounds and found openings near the net. Saros simply made the saves required to keep the deficit manageable.
His most significant stop came in the third period, when Josh Anderson broke in alone with roughly eight minutes remaining. A successful finish would have restored Montreal’s lead at 3-2 and possibly changed the outcome.
Instead, Saros stopped Anderson with his left pad. Nashville survived the chance, and the Canadiens never found another goal.
That save illustrates the difference between the two teams on Thursday. Montreal created opportunities without finishing them. Nashville waited for its own openings and made them count.
Special Teams Decided the Final Result
Penalties became increasingly expensive as the game progressed. Nashville’s power play produced the tying goal in the second period, then delivered the go-ahead goal late in regulation.
With the score tied and 3:16 left, Mike Matheson was penalized for tripping Steven Stamkos. Ryan O’Reilly took advantage by deflecting Roman Josi’s shot past Fowler, giving Nashville its first lead of the night.
The play was difficult for Fowler to stop because the puck changed direction in front of him. Still, the larger issue was the penalty that put Montreal in danger during a critical stretch.
Montreal also needed more from its own power play. When an opponent receives excellent goaltending, special teams can provide the goal that even-strength pressure does not. Nashville found that advantage twice, while Montreal did not produce a comparable response.
The Canadiens’ priorities before their next game are clear:
- Reduce unnecessary penalties late in close games.
- Improve net-front execution when chances are available.
- Make opposing goaltenders work harder on Montreal’s power-play opportunities.
- Protect leads by continuing to attack rather than settling for possession alone.
Fowler Faced a Difficult First Start
Jacob Fowler’s performance needs to be viewed in context. He made his first start of the season after being recalled from the Laval Rocket because Samuel Montembeault suffered a lower-body injury during practice on Wednesday.
Fowler stopped 15 shots and allowed three goals before Montreal pulled him for an extra attacker. Nashville added two empty-net goals through Adam Edstrom, which made the final score look more decisive than the game was.
In practical terms, Fowler surrendered three goals while defending the net at five-on-five or on special teams. The power-play goal from O’Reilly was a deflection from close range, and the young goaltender was placed in challenging situations throughout the night.
Fowler did not produce the performance Montreal needed to steal the game, but blaming him for the loss would ignore the Canadiens’ larger problems. The team failed to finish its chances, gave away momentum with penalties and could not respond after Nashville took control.
Fowler already appeared in 17 games for Montreal last season, posting a 9-6-2 record, a 2.43 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. However, the uncertainty surrounding Montembeault’s recovery means the Canadiens may need Fowler to handle meaningful minutes sooner than expected.
The Empty-Net Goals Distorted the Score
Edstrom’s two empty-net goals changed the final margin from a one-goal decision into a 5-2 result. That distinction matters when evaluating Montreal’s overall performance.
The Canadiens were not three goals worse than Nashville during ordinary five-on-five play. They controlled large stretches, created more offensive pressure and held a 2-0 lead. Their failure was not a total lack of competitiveness; it was the inability to finish the job.
Montreal needed one more goal during its strongest period of play. It needed to avoid giving Nashville late power-play opportunities. It also needed a save or a defensive stop after the momentum shifted.
Those are correctable issues, but they are also the reasons a promising performance ended without a point.
What the Canadiens Must Show Against Detroit
Montreal will host the Detroit Red Wings at Bell Centre on Saturday, giving the team an immediate chance to respond. The next game should reveal whether Thursday’s collapse becomes a learning experience or the beginning of a troubling pattern.
The Canadiens should focus on three improvements:
Convert Pressure Into Goals
Possession only matters when it creates a lasting advantage. Montreal cannot dominate shifts, generate quality chances and still allow an opponent to remain one goal away from changing the game.
Players around the crease must attack rebounds more aggressively, while the top forwards need to finish the opportunities created by the team’s forecheck.
Manage Momentum Before It Turns
The two late second-period goals exposed how quickly a game can swing. After taking a 2-0 lead, Montreal needed a composed response when Kerfoot scored. Instead, Nashville received another power play and tied the game before the intermission.
Strong teams recognize those moments and slow the opposition’s surge before it becomes permanent.
Support the Goaltender
Whether Fowler starts again or another option takes the crease, Montreal must make the assignment easier. Better penalty discipline, fewer screens and stronger rebound control would help any goaltender manage the pressure.
That responsibility becomes even more important while Montembeault’s availability remains uncertain.
A Frustrating Loss With a Useful Lesson
Montreal’s 1-2-1 record and three-game winless streak deserve attention, but Thursday’s defeat does not suggest the Canadiens were completely overwhelmed. The team showed it could dictate play against Nashville, yet it did not execute when the game demanded precision.
Suzuki’s goal and Newhook’s finish reflected the offense Montreal wants to build around. The problem was sustaining that advantage after taking the lead.
For a young team, learning how to close games may be as important as learning how to create chances. Montreal had the better start, the stronger territorial stretches and a clear path to victory. Nashville’s discipline in key moments and Saros’ excellent work in goal ultimately mattered more.
Saturday’s matchup with Detroit offers the Canadiens a chance to prove that the loss produced a response. The formula is straightforward: finish more often, stay out of the penalty box and protect whichever goaltender is forced into action.