The Montreal Canadiens appeared headed toward a convincing home victory Thursday night. They controlled possession, created repeated chances and built a 2-0 advantage over the Nashville Predators at Bell Centre.
That promising start ultimately produced another frustrating result. Nashville scored five consecutive goals, including Ryan O’Reilly’s late power-play marker, and escaped with a 5-2 win. Montreal has now gone three games without a victory and sits at 1-2-1 early in the season.
The defeat was not the result of one isolated mistake. Montreal’s inability to finish chances, untimely penalties, a momentum-changing second period and a difficult goaltending situation all shaped the outcome.
A Strong Start Was Undone by Missed Opportunities
The scoreboard did not reflect the Canadiens’ early control. Montreal spent extended stretches attacking in Nashville’s zone and forced Juuse Saros to make several important saves before the game opened up.
Nick Suzuki finally broke through during four-on-four play in the second period. He recovered a loose puck near the crease and lifted it past Saros to give Montreal a 1-0 lead.
The Canadiens continued pressing after the opening goal. Alex Newhook doubled the advantage midway through the period when he finished a setup from Josh Anderson. The building was energized, Nashville was struggling to sustain pressure and Montreal seemed ready to create separation.
That third goal never arrived. Montreal generated enough offensive zone time and quality chances to make the game extremely difficult for the Predators, but Saros kept the visitors within reach.
That distinction became decisive. A team can dominate possession and still leave the door open if it fails to turn pressure into a larger lead. Montreal gave Nashville exactly that opportunity.
The Second Period Turned the Contest
Nashville’s comeback began with 4:54 left in the second period. Alexander Kerfoot redirected a shot from the point beyond Jacob Fowler, cutting the Canadiens’ lead to 2-1.
The goal changed the emotional balance of the game. Nashville suddenly had evidence that Montreal’s control was not translating into enough separation, while the Canadiens had to protect a much narrower margin.
The situation became even more damaging during the final minute of the period. Matthew Wood scored on the power play with only 32 seconds remaining, tying the game at 2-2 before the intermission.
Instead of carrying a two-goal lead into the locker room, Montreal entered the third period with its advantage completely erased. The timing gave Nashville confidence and forced the Canadiens to regroup after surrendering momentum in a matter of minutes.
Those late-period breakdowns often carry extra weight because they affect both the score and the way teams approach the next period. Nashville left the second with belief, while Montreal had to recover from what had looked like a comfortable position.
Three Moments That Decided the Outcome
- Montreal failed to build on the 2-0 lead. The Canadiens had the better start and created enough opportunities to put the game out of reach, but Saros repeatedly denied them. His 32-save performance prevented Montreal from gaining the cushion its territorial advantage deserved.
- Nashville received key power-play opportunities. The Predators’ tying goal came with the man advantage, and another Montreal penalty later gave Nashville a chance to claim its first lead. In a close game, those special-teams situations were far too valuable to give away.
- Josh Anderson’s breakaway did not produce a response. With about eight minutes left in regulation, Anderson moved in alone against Saros. A goal would have restored Montreal’s lead, but Saros stopped the attempt with his left pad. Nashville survived the chance and scored a few minutes later.
The sequence involving Anderson was especially painful. Montreal had a realistic opportunity to regain control, but Saros delivered when his team needed him. Soon afterward, the Predators converted their own opportunity.
Penalties Handed Nashville the Winning Chance
Montreal’s discipline deteriorated at the worst possible time. With the game tied late in the third period, Mike Matheson was penalized for tripping Steven Stamkos.
Nashville made the Canadiens pay. With 3:16 remaining, Ryan O’Reilly redirected Roman Josi’s point shot past Fowler to put the Predators ahead 3-2.
It was Nashville’s first lead of the night, and it arrived through the same area that had produced the tying goal: the power play. The Canadiens had spent much of the evening playing competitively at five-on-five, but special teams shifted the result toward Nashville.
Montreal also needed more from its own power play. The Canadiens did not generate a comparable breakthrough when their opportunities arrived, while Nashville converted twice. That difference can decide a game even when one club controls much of the action at even strength.
Against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, Montreal must avoid giving opponents easy chances with the extra skater. Preventable penalties are especially costly when the offensive margin is thin and the opposing goaltender is playing well.
Fowler’s First Start Deserves Context
Jacob Fowler’s first start of the season became another major storyline. The 21-year-old was recalled from the Laval Rocket after Samuel Montembeault suffered a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s practice.
Fowler made 15 saves in the loss. The final score may suggest a poor outing, but two of Nashville’s five goals came into an empty net after Montreal pulled him during the closing minutes.
Fowler therefore surrendered three goals while actually defending the net. He also faced difficult circumstances, including Nashville’s two successful power-play opportunities and a team in front of him that had begun losing control of the game.
That does not mean every goal was unavoidable, and Fowler will likely identify plays he wants to handle differently. However, assigning the defeat primarily to the young goaltender would overlook the larger problems that developed in front of him.
Montreal’s defense needed to limit the penalties, protect the middle of the ice and help Fowler manage the pressure after Nashville gained momentum. The team did not consistently accomplish those tasks.
Montembeault’s Status Adds Pressure
Fowler entered the lineup because Montembeault’s injury created an immediate need. Montreal had not provided a clear timetable for Montembeault’s return as of Thursday, leaving the club with uncertainty in goal.
Fowler is not entirely new to NHL action. 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.
Those numbers show that he has already handled this level successfully. The challenge is that an injury to Montembeault could force Fowler into an important role earlier than the Canadiens expected.
If Fowler starts again, the team must make his assignment more manageable. Better defensive structure, fewer penalties and stronger rebound control would help stabilize the position while Montreal waits for more information about Montembeault.
The Final Margin Was Misleading
Adam Edstrom scored twice into an empty net during the final minutes, turning a one-goal Nashville lead into a 5-2 result. Those goals made the game look far more comfortable for the Predators than it had been for most of regulation.
Montreal was not overwhelmed from start to finish. The Canadiens controlled substantial portions of the game, created more pressure than Nashville early and held a 2-0 lead. Their problem was not a complete lack of competitiveness; it was the inability to close the contest.
That is why the loss should be viewed as frustrating rather than catastrophic. The underlying performance contained several encouraging elements, but the details that decide close games went against Montreal.
The Canadiens needed to capitalize on their strongest stretches, protect their lead when Nashville began responding and convert the most important chances. They did not execute those responsibilities consistently enough.
Suzuki Remains a Key Positive
Nick Suzuki provided one of the night’s clearest positives. His goal was his third of the young season and came from aggressive work around the Nashville crease.
Montreal will need that kind of involvement from its captain, especially while injuries and lineup uncertainty affect the roster. Suzuki’s ability to create offense in difficult areas remains central to the team’s attack.
His production alone could not preserve the lead against Nashville, but it gave Montreal an early advantage and showed the type of direct play the Canadiens need from their leaders.
Detroit Offers an Immediate Test
The Canadiens will have little time to dwell on the collapse. Detroit visits Bell Centre on Saturday, giving Montreal an immediate chance to respond before the losing stretch grows longer.
The path forward is straightforward. Montreal must finish more of the chances it creates, remain disciplined when the score is close and provide stronger support for whichever goaltender starts.
A 2-0 lead is useful, but it is not a guarantee in the modern NHL. Teams must continue attacking after gaining an advantage, especially when the opposing goaltender is keeping the game within reach.
Thursday’s loss also reinforced the difference between playing well and winning. Montreal looked like the better team for long stretches, yet Nashville took the points because it handled the critical moments more effectively.
At 1-2-1, the Canadiens have no reason to panic this early in the schedule. Still, Saturday’s game matters because it offers a chance to show that the lessons from Nashville have been absorbed. The next step is not simply creating pressure; it is turning that pressure into a complete result.
