Juuse Saros saved 37 of 38 shots and Colton Sissons scored the Predators' two goals to help Nashville withstand a furious late push by the Montreal Canadiens
After being shut out in Toronto on Saturday, the Nashville Predators headed to Montreal for their second game of this weekend's back to back a they face off against the Canadiens.
The Predators lost Saturday 4-0 to the Maple Leafs and needed a strong bounce back performance after putting just 18 shots on goal while allowing goaltender Kevin Lankinen to face 37 shots from the Leafs. The Canadiens defeated the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, but it took extra time to secure their 3-2 win in a shootout. The 12-12-3 Canadiens are led by young talent Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. Tonight Jake Allen was the starting goaltender for Montreal.
The Predators made a few adjustments to their lineup after last night's game. Cody Glass and Luke Schenn were both healthy scratches for tonight's game, and Saros got the start in net.
Forsberg - O'Reilly - Nyquist
Sherwood - Novak - Evanglista
Trenin - Pärssinen - Sissons
Smith - McCarron - Tomasino
Josi - Fabbro
McDonagh - Carrier
Lauzon - Barrie
Saros
Lankinen
The first period started off with back and forth play as the teams transitioned up and down the ice but couldn't get set up for sustained offensive pressure early. At 7:11 a parade of penalties began as Roman Josi headed to the box for a crosscheck on Brendan Gallagher in front of the net. Less than a minute into the Habs' power play, Juraj Slafkovsky was whistled for a hold on Colton Sissons, and the game moved to four on four until lFilip Forsberg caught Jake Evans with a high stick. The teams played four on three hockey for :42 seconds. Sissons, Ryan McDonagh, and Alexandre Carrier held off the Montreal power play, and eventually the teams returned to five a side.
Five on five play was interrupted once again as Brendan Gallagher was whistled for interference against Tyson Barrie. Sissons tipped a shot by Filip Forsberg past Jake Allen at 11:41 to give Nashville the first goal of the game.
Some fancy puck handling by Luke Evangelista on his way to the net drew a penalty at 14:20, but a half minute later Evangelista headed to the box for holding the stick. The teams played four on four again, but neither team could capitalize on the extra space and the teams returned to full strength to finished out the first period with the Predators leading 1-0.
At 4:26 in the second period the penalty box doors opened again. Brendan Gallagher sat for elbowing Colton Sissons while Sissons was assessed two minutes for a retaliatory crosscheck. Both teams generated chances on the four on four but neither team could convert those chances into goals, and the teams returned to full strength.
Sissons scored his second of the game at 7:03 cleaning up a juicy rebound to give Nashville a 2-0 lead. Shortly after the score, Montreal had a breakaway chance, but Saros came up with the save. At 11:21 the Predators were assessed a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. Luke Evangelista served the two minute penalty while the penalty kill and a few lucky puck bounces kept the Habs from scoring on the man advantage.
Montreal thought they finally got on the board after a wrap around chance and net front scramble. The goal was waved off for goalie interference, but right after that Jake Evans scored a backhanded goal that counted with less than a minute remaining in the second period. The teams headed into the second intermission with Nashville leading 2-1.
Montreal came out with momentum after the late second period goal and kept the Predators from getting a shot on net for the first eight minutes of the third. It was unrelenting pressure from Montreal, but Saros was able to come up with big saves and the Preds were able to clear the puck out long enough to get quick line changes before Montreal re-entered the zone.
At 8:53 Alexandre Carrier headed to the box for a trip giving Montreal a power play chance. Cole Smith created two quick shorthanded chances — Nashville's first shots of the third period — but Smith couldn't get the puck past Allen. Nashville's penalty kill was able to kill off the remaining power play.
Even after the power play ended, Montreal continued to batter the Predators with offensive zone pressure. Saros was forced to make quick saves, and Nashville couldn't get puck possession long enough to generate any offensive zone time of their own until there was less than three minutes to go in the game.
With 1:28 remaining, Allen abandoned the net in exchange for the extra Habs attacker. The Preds were able to clear the puck costing Montreal valuable time, and Saros came up with a late second save to secure Nashville's 2-1 win.
Cody Glass Could Return to Lineup Tonight vs. Leafs
From the Archive: Waiting for Radulov
Austin Watson's Late Shot Hits Jeremy Lauzon: Dumb or Dirty?