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- calendar_today October 9, 2026
Montreal Canadiens Start Strong Against Nashville Predators
The Montreal Canadiens began their October 8, 2026 game at Bell Centre in promising fashion, facing the Nashville Predators. The top line took early control, and the newly assembled second line quickly capitalized. Alex Newhook made a key play, maneuvering the puck deep into the zone, regaining possession, and setting up Chris Kreider for what appeared to be the opening goal. However, the Predators challenged for offside, and replay confirmed Kreider had entered the zone prematurely, negating the goal.
Early Dominance and Missed Opportunities
Montreal continued to apply pressure following the overturned goal. Zachary Bolduc generated high-danger scoring chances and displayed aggressive intent every time he handled the puck. The Canadiens drew a penalty as Ryan O’Reilly was called for hooking Juraj Slafkovský, but were unable to capitalize on the power play. Ten minutes into the period, Montreal led the shot count 7-1, dominating possession and opportunities.
Midway through the first period, Lane Hutson was penalized after a questionable incident with Steven Stamkos, leading to a Predators power play. Montreal’s penalty killers, including Jake Evans and Phillip Danault, disrupted the Predators and nearly created a short-handed scoring chance. Although the Canadiens were outshot 4-3 in the second half of the period, their goalie Juuse Saros faced more difficult saves compared to Nashville’s Fowler. Despite multiple efforts, Montreal ended the period without a goal.
Canadiens Take the Lead in the Second Period
In the second period, Josh Anderson’s broken stick led to a penalty, but the power play was cut short when Evans was tripped. On the ensuing four-on-four, Noah Dobson pressed forward off the faceoff, and Nick Suzuki capitalized at the slot’s edge, scoring off a defender.
Momentum stayed with the Canadiens as the crowd’s energy soared. Less than a minute later, Alex Newhook’s fluttering shot found its way past Saros, giving Montreal a 2-0 lead and sparking hopes for another strong finish.
The Turning Point: Power Plays and Penalties
The Canadiens’ intensity diminished after pulling ahead, allowing the Predators more zone time. Nashville responded by getting on the board with a deflected puck from the slot. Montreal’s inability to maintain pressure mirrored patterns seen in previous games.
Dobson’s tripping penalty provided the Predators their third power play of the night. With a new strategy focusing lower in the Canadiens’ zone, Nashville tied the game 2-2 when Matthew Wood scored into a dislodged net after Anderson shoved Stamkos, leading to net displacement and a cross-checking penalty.
Collapse in the Third Period
Goalie Fowler made a critical stop on Stamkos early in the third to keep Montreal level. The Canadiens had a chance to regain the lead on their third power play, but failed to generate dangerous opportunities. Arber Xhekaj returned from a misconduct penalty just as Anderson broke away for a chance, but the momentum did not shift.
Late in the period, Mike Matheson took a tripping penalty, sending Nashville to a decisive power play. The Predators capitalized as Ryan O’Reilly tipped in the go-ahead goal. With Fowler pulled for an extra attacker, a puck hopped over Hutson’s stick and Adam Edström scored into the empty net. Edström then added another empty-netter, sealing a 5-2 win for Nashville.
Aftermath and Looking Ahead
The Canadiens, who once looked poised for victory, suffered a complete collapse and saw their record drop to 1-2-1, having now lost three consecutive games. They will next host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Game Analysis and Three Stars
The Canadiens showed intermittent flashes of elite play, and several players had solid performances. However, the collective late-game breakdown led to another disappointing loss. The team must address their consistency, especially when protecting a lead, as they look ahead to their next matchup.
Source: habseyesontheprize.com.
