The Montreal Canadiens had a slow start and failed to execute on five power play opportunities in their loss to the Nashville Predators.
GAME RECAP | Montreal Canadiens 1 vs Nashville Predators 2 | FINAL
Canadiens Lineup
Forwards
22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
91 Sean Monahan - 71 Jake Evans - 17 Josh Anderson
11 Brendan Gallagher - 28 Christian Dvorak - 56 Jesse Ylonen
55 Michael Pezzetta - 13 Mitchell Stephens - 40 Joel Armia
Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 58 David Savard
21 Kaiden Guhle - 52 Justin Barron
47 Jayden Struble - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic
Goaltenders
Starter: 34 Jake Allen
Alternate: 35 Sam Montembeault
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Gustav Lindstrom, Cayden Primeau
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body), Jordan Harris (lower body), Alex Newhook (lower body), Tanner Pearson (upper body)
Game Report
The Canadiens have been guilty of slow starts so far this season. Montreal has scored the fewest first period goals in the NHL. They were the beneficiaries of three power play opportunities in the opening frame of this match (and two more in the rest of the game) but could not take advantage.
Being blanked again in the first period of this game means that Montreal has scored just 14 first period goals in 28 games this season.
Colton Sissons opened the scoring on the power play in the first period with Brendan Gallagher in the penalty box for interference.
Sissons picked up his second goal of the evening at the seven minute mark of the second period opening up a two goal Nashville lead. A goal by Joel Armia was called back late in the second period as Gallagher was called for goaltender interference.
But Jake Evans scored with just 35 seconds remaining in the middle frame giving the home side some life. For Evans, it was his first goal since the opening game of the season on October 11th.
With the Predators protecting their one-goal lead, Montreal dominated the third period outshooting Nashville 14-6 and generating eight high danger scoring chances. But they could not beat Juuse Saros who made 36 saves for the win.
Jake Allen was solid in goal for the Canadiens keeping them in the game until they made adjustments. Allen made 30 saves but didn't receive any goal support. In Allen's last seven starts, Montreal has scored just 14 goals.
In addition to problems on the power play, the Canadiens are also struggling at the Bell Centre with just one win in their last eight home games.
Montreal has lost all five of its second games in back-to-back situations this season.
Game Statistics
Canadiens (12-13-3)
Shots: 37
Face-off %: 55.6
Power play: 0/5
Penalty minutes: 8
Hits: 25
Blocks:15
Predators (15-13-0)
Shots: 32
Face-off %: 44.4
Power play: 1/2
Penalty minutes: 12
Hits: 28
Blocks: 12
Scoring Summary
Canadiens Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: Evans (2)
3rd period: --
OT: --
SO:
Predators Scorers
1st period: Sissons (8)-PPG
2nd period: Sissons (9)
3rd period:
OT: --
SO: --
Goaltenders
MTL: Allen (L) 3-6-2
NSH: Saros (W) 12-10-0
Canadiens Players of the Game
Brendan Gallagher - Gallagher was involved all over the ice for better or worse on Sunday night. The veteran forward led the Canadiens with 10 shots on goal. Gallagher also served two minor penalties.
Jake Allen - Allen did everything possible to keep the Canadiens in this game.
Jayden Struble - Struble has played 10 games in a Canadiens jersey and hasn't looked out of place. Struble has earned every minute of ice time and has recorded a goal and an assist.
Video Highlights
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REW0pZGHOxk[/embed]
Post-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis
"We didn’t give [Jake Allen] any run support tonight, but I thought he played a strong game."
"Tonight I feel we lost momentum because our power play didn't execute."
Jake Allen
"It's not my job to score and I have full confidence that my teammates will do it. This is the nature of our sport. I felt good tonight. I think I had a good game."
Up Next
The Canadiens announced that forward Tanner Pearson will be out for four to six weeks due to an upper-body injury.
The Canadiens will have a day off on Monday. They will be back on the ice for practice on Tuesday to prepare for a Wednesday night visit by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre.
Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.
