In the long, humbling arc of a difficult season, the Montreal Canadiens found a moment of collective clarity on Saturday night, overwhelming the Nashville Predators 6-3 with a second-period burst that recalled what this team is capable of when its pieces align. Even as Nashville's Matt Duchene authored a remarkable personal chapter — a third-period hat trick that briefly made the outcome feel uncertain — Montreal's foundation held, and a four-game losing streak came to an end. For a team sitting at 5-13-2, such nights offer not a destination, but a reminder that the road back is still walkable
Canadiens end 4-game skid with 6-3 victory over Predators
Four goals in 37 seconds shattered Nashville's will
Mark
So Montreal was struggling badly—5-13-2 is a rough start to a season. What changed in this game?
Mimi
The second period was the difference. They scored four goals in one frame, and they did it with speed and precision. Poehling's two goals in 37 seconds—that's the kind of thing that breaks a team's spirit.
Luke
But let's be clear: Nashville's goaltender Saros gave up five goals on 19 shots. That's not Montreal playing brilliantly so much as Nashville's goalie having a very bad night. Once he came out, Rittich stopped everything.
Mimi
Fair point. But Montreal still had to execute. Dvorak's goal, Gallagher's power-play goal—those are real plays, not just Saros falling apart.
Mark
And then Duchene nearly brought them back in the third?
Mimi
Three goals in less than ten minutes. It was a genuine scare for Montreal, even though they'd built such a big lead.
Luke
The thing is, once you're down 5-0 or 5-1, you're playing for pride. Duchene's hat trick is impressive on its own, but it doesn't change the fact that Montreal controlled the game.
Mark
Does this win mean Montreal's turning a corner?
Mimi
One game doesn't erase a 5-13-2 start. But it's the first sign that the pieces might work together.
Luke
We'd need to see it happen again. One dominant second period against a team that fell apart doesn't prove anything about Montreal's trajectory.
El Pulso
- A four-game skid had cast a long shadow over Montreal, and the pressure to rediscover any winning formula was mounting with each passing loss.
- The second period became a kind of controlled detonation — four unanswered goals, including two from Ryan Poehling in a breathless 37-second span, that shattered Nashville's composure and forced a goaltending change.
- Nashville's Juuse Saros, pulled after surrendering five goals on just 19 shots, symbolized how completely the Predators lost control of the game's middle chapter.
- Matt Duchene's three third-period goals in under ten minutes threatened to rewrite the story, turning a rout into something far more nerve-wracking.
- Tyler Toffoli's empty-net goal finally closed the door, and Samuel Montembeault's 36-save performance gave Montreal the backbone it needed to survive Nashville's late surge.
In the long, humbling arc of a difficult season, the Montreal Canadiens found a moment of collective clarity on Saturday night, overwhelming the Nashville Predators 6-3 with a second-period burst that recalled what this team is capable of when its pieces align. Even as Nashville's Matt Duchene authored a remarkable personal chapter — a third-period hat trick that briefly made the outcome feel uncertain — Montreal's foundation held, and a four-game losing streak came to an end. For a team sitting at 5-13-2, such nights offer not a destination, but a reminder that the road back is still walkable.
The Montreal Canadiens shook off a four-game losing streak Saturday night with a 6-3 victory over the Nashville Predators, powered by a second-period offensive eruption that proved too large for Nashville to overcome.
Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring early in the first, tucking a loose puck past Juuse Saros. Nashville appeared to answer shortly after, but the goal was waved off when officials ruled the puck had been directed in with an arm — a call that preserved Montreal's lead and set the tone for what followed.
The second period was where the game was truly decided. Christian Dvorak converted a creative no-look backhand feed from Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher added a power-play goal off a Jonathan Drouin pass, and then Ryan Poehling delivered the knockout blow — scoring twice in 37 seconds to give Montreal four unanswered goals in the frame. Saros was pulled after the fifth goal, having allowed five on just 19 shots, with David Rittich coming on to stop all nine shots he faced the rest of the way.
Nashville refused to go quietly. Matt Duchene scored three times in the third period — two on the power play and one at even strength — in less than ten minutes, briefly making the scoreline feel precarious. But Tyler Toffoli's empty-net goal ended any realistic hope of a comeback. Toffoli, Drouin, and defenseman Chris Wideman each finished with two assists, while goaltender Samuel Montembeault earned the win with 36 saves.
The victory lifts Montreal to 5-13-2 — still well below .500, but carrying at least the warmth of a convincing performance. Nashville slips to 9-7-1.
The Montreal Canadiens came to life in the middle frame Saturday night, pouring four goals past Nashville's goaltender in a single period to break free from a four-game losing streak. The final score was 6-3, a comfortable margin that held even as the Predators mounted a furious third-period charge led by Matt Duchene, who scored three times in less than ten minutes.
Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring just past the two-minute mark of the first period, recovering a loose puck in the crease and depositing it behind Juuse Saros. Nashville thought it had answered moments later when Luke Kunin appeared to level the game, but referee Corey Syvret ruled that Kunin had directed the puck in with his arm—a judgment that stood and kept Montreal's lead intact.
The Canadiens' offensive explosion came in the second. Josh Anderson set up Christian Dvorak with a no-look backhand pass early in the frame, and Dvorak made it 2-0 with his third goal of the season. Brendan Gallagher extended the lead to three on the power play at 3:32, receiving a pass from Jonathan Drouin and tapping it home. Then came the sequence that broke Nashville's will: Ryan Poehling scored twice in 37 seconds, at 9:31 and 10:08, giving Montreal four unanswered goals in the period and forcing coach John Hynes to pull Saros after the second marker. Saros finished with five goals allowed on just 19 shots. David Rittich took over in relief and stopped all nine shots he faced.
Tyler Toffoli added an empty-netter late to seal the victory. For Montreal, Toffoli, Drouin, and defenseman Chris Wideman each recorded two assists. Goaltender Samuel Montembeault made 36 saves to earn the win.
Duchene's hat trick in the third period—two power-play goals at 6:36 and 12:53, then an even-strength marker at 16:27—gave Nashville a brief moment of hope. The Predators pulled their goalie in pursuit of one more goal, but Toffoli's empty-netter ended any comeback bid. The loss dropped Nashville to 9-7-1, while Montreal improved to 5-13-2, a record that still sits well below .500 but at least comes with the momentum of a decisive home victory.
Citas Notables
Referee Corey Syvret ruled that Luke Kunin had directed the puck into the net with his arm, waving off Nashville's first-period goal attempt— Game official decision
Quieres la nota completa?
Lee el original en ElliotLakeToday.com ↗
Religion