Canadiens loss – Montreal squandered an early lead at the Bell Centre as the Nashville Predators rallied for a 5-2 victory, extending the Canadiens’ winless streak to three games.
The Bell Centre was roaring, the chants of “Olé!. Olé!. Olé!” echoing through the rafters as Montreal commanded a 2-0 lead midway through Thursday’s contest. By the time the final horn sounded, the silence in the building was absolute. What began as a showcase of dominance for the Canadiens turned into a stinging 5-2 collapse. marked by a late-game surge that saw the Nashville Predators walk away with the win.
Ryan O’Reilly provided the backbreaker with just 3:16 remaining on the clock. Stationed on the power play. the veteran centre redirected a Roman Josi point shot past Jacob Fowler. capping a frantic comeback. The opportunity stemmed from a costly tripping penalty assessed to Mike Matheson just 59 seconds earlier. Adam Edstrom later hammered home two empty-net goals to widen the margin. turning a tight game into a lopsided final score.
Montreal’s early momentum was built on the back of Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook. Suzuki opened the scoring 3:12 into the second period during four-on-four play, tucking a backhand between Juuse Saros’ legs. Newhook doubled the advantage at 8:50, burying a feed from Josh Anderson after a sustained period of pressure. For a team that had won five straight meetings against Nashville dating back to March 5. 2024. the game felt entirely within their control.
That control evaporated late in the second period. Alexander Kerfoot. who signed a two-year. US$7-million deal in free agency. put the Predators on the board by redirecting an Adam Wilsby shot. Thirty-two seconds before the intermission, Matthew Wood knotted the game at 2-2. That sequence was fraught with tension; Anderson had been whistled for cross-checking Steven Stamkos. a play that saw the net dislodged just as the puck crossed the line.
For 21-year-old Jacob Fowler, the night was a trial by fire. Recalled from the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Wednesday—following an apparent leg or groin injury to Samuel Montembeault—Fowler turned away 15 shots in his first start of the season. At the other end. Saros proved the difference-maker. finishing with 32 saves. including a pivotal stop on a breakaway attempt by Anderson with eight minutes left in regulation.
The math of the evening is stark: Nashville moves to 2-1-1 on the season. buoyed by two assists from Stamkos and a goal from Kerfoot. Montreal, now 1-2-1, remains winless in three outings. The path forward remains compressed. with Montreal set to host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. while Nashville travels to face the Ottawa Senators the same day.
Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators NHL Ryan O'Reilly Jacob Fowler Bell Centre game summary