Predators Blanked 3-0 by Canadiens for Sixth Straight Loss

Sam Montembault makes 29 saves as Nashville is shut out for the fifth time in 27 games this season.

The Nashville Predators were once again victims of their own offensive ineptitude, as they were shut out 3-0 by Sam Montembault and the Montreal Canadiens Thursday at Centre Bell.

Goaltender Justus Annunen was exceptional in his Predators debut, coming up with a number of key saves as he turned aside 27 of 29 shots faced and finished with a .931 save percentage. It wasn't enough, however, as the Predators dropped their sixth in a row and fell to 7-14-6 on the season.

Forsberg - Stamkos - Nyquist
Jankowski - Svechkov - Marchessault
L'Heureux - Pärssinen - Evangelista
McCarron - Sissons - Smith

Josi - Carrier
Skjei - Blankenburg
Wilsby - Schenn

Annunen
Saros

Extra: Del Gaizo, Novak, O'Reilly, Lauzon*

*The Predators announced at the start of warmups that Ryan O'Reilly is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Additionally, Jeremy Lauzon has been placed on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury.

Michael McCarron returned to the lineup after missing six games on Injured Reserve with an upper-body injury.

The Predators were gifted an early power play opportunity when Montreal was assessed a bench minor at the 6:58 mark of the first period for having too many men on the ice. The opportunity was squandered less than a minute later, however, when the Canadiens' penalty killers forced a 2-on-1 in the Nashville zone and allowed Jake Evans to rip a shot past Annunen to give Montreal a 1-0 lead.

A scoreless second period ended with back-to-back penalties by Gustav Nyquist (tripping) and Colton Sissons (interference) to give Montreal a 5-on-3 advantage to start the third. Patrik Laine capitalized with a power-play goal just over a minute into the period to extend Montreal's lead to 2-0.

The Predators got a 5-on-3 advantage of their own with back-to-back penalties called on Kirby Dach and Jayden Struble later in the period but were ultimately unable to capitalize. Nyquist appeared to get the Predators on the board on the power play, but the goal was immediately waved off when it was determined that the puck was kicked into the net.

Joel Armia scored into the empty net with 45 seconds remaining for the 3-0 final.

The Predators wrap up their three-game Canadian road trip Saturday with a visit to the Ottawa Senators. The puck drops at 6 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports Network South and on ESPN+ for out-of-market customers in the United States.

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