NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Montreal Canadiens rallied in the second period with goals from Cole Caufield and Patrik Laine to secure a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes was outstanding for Montreal, stopping 36 shots as the Canadiens extended their winning streak to five games, bouncing back impressively after a previous five-game losing streak.
Steven Stamkos scored the lone goal for Nashville, and Juuse Saros made 15 saves. The Predators struggled on power plays, going 0-for-4, and suffered their sixth consecutive loss, their seventh in the last eight games.
Stamkos opened the scoring early in the first period, capitalizing on a pass from Filip Forsberg for his 25th goal of the season.
However, Montreal responded in the second period when Caufield, assisted by Nick Suzuki, scored his 36th goal of the season to tie the game. Just over four minutes later, Laine netted the game-winner, his 20th of the season.
Matthew Wood, a 20-year-old winger and the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his NHL debut for Nashville in this game, recording one shot in just over 13 minutes of ice time.
Key Takeaways:
Canadiens: Montreal`s record improves to 38-30-9, placing them in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are now five points behind Ottawa (42-29-6, 90 points) and hold a six-point lead over both the New York Rangers (36-33-7) and Detroit Red Wings (36-33-7).
Predators: Saros`s struggles continue, as this loss marks his third straight defeat and his fourth in the last six games.
Turning Point:
Lane Hutson`s assist on Laine`s decisive goal was his 58th of the season. This assist also gave the 21-year-old Hutson 64 points, tying Chris Chelios` franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman.
Game Stats:
Despite outshooting Montreal 37-17 overall, including a 15-8 shot advantage in the second period, Nashville couldn`t capitalize. Montreal scored twice in the second period and maintained their lead to win.
Looking Ahead:
The Canadiens will host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, while the Predators will host the New York Islanders, also on Tuesday.
Tristan Blackwood