In the dim light of a December Sunday at Bell Centre, Nashville's Predators found quiet resilience after a humbling loss the night before, leaning on Colton Sissons' opportunism and Juuse Saros' steadiness to edge Montreal 2-1. The game was less a spectacle than a study in efficiency — Nashville converting where it mattered, Montreal squandering five power-play chances and watching a disallowed goal silence a restless crowd. For the Canadiens, the defeat lands not merely as two lost points, but as another weight added to a roster already bending under injury.
Sissons' two goals lift Predators past Canadiens 2-1
Saros and the Predators' defence held firm
Mark
So Sissons gets both goals—was this a dominant performance by Nashville, or did Montreal just beat itself?
Mimi
A bit of both. Sissons was sharp, especially on that second goal where he was left alone for the rebound. But Montreal's power play was brutal—0-for-5 at home. That's the kind of night that costs you games.
Luke
Right, but let's be clear: Nashville was outshot 14-5 in the third period. Saros made 37 saves. If Montreal's power play had converted even one or two of those chances, this is a different game.
Mark
And Savard came back from a long injury. Did that help Montreal's defence?
Mimi
He returned to the top pairing with Matheson, so yes, they got a veteran back. But one game doesn't tell you much about whether he's fully ready.
Luke
Also worth noting: Montreal's already dealing with three other forwards out. Pearson getting hurt on Saturday adds to that pile. The injury situation is real.
Mark
How much does that matter for their next game against Pittsburgh?
Mimi
It matters a lot. They're thin up front and now they're looking at a team that's been playing well. Nashville's won 10 of 13—they're not a pushover.
Luke
Though we should say: Nashville lost 4-0 to Toronto the day before this. One win doesn't mean they've turned a corner. They're still 15-13-0.
Mark
Fair point. So this was a close game that came down to special teams and goaltending.
Mimi
Exactly. Saros was the difference. He had to be.
Luke
And Montreal's power play has to be better. You can't go 0-for-5 at home and expect to win.
Il Polso
- Nashville arrived at Bell Centre carrying the sting of a 4-0 shutout loss to Toronto just 24 hours earlier, yet responded with the composure of a team that has won 10 of its last 13 games.
- Montreal's power play — offered five opportunities — failed to convert even once, while Nashville needed only one of two chances to tilt the game in their favour.
- A disallowed Armia goal in the second period, waved off for goaltender interference, sent audible frustration rippling through the Bell Centre crowd and seemed to deflate a Canadiens push.
- Jake Evans pulled Montreal within one, and the Canadiens dominated the third period 14-5 in shots, but Saros and Nashville's defence absorbed the pressure and held the line.
- The loss deepens Montreal's injury crisis — Pearson now joins Dach, Newhook, and Harvey-Pinard on the sidelines — leaving the Canadiens increasingly thin up front heading into a Wednesday home date with Pittsburgh.
In the dim light of a December Sunday at Bell Centre, Nashville's Predators found quiet resilience after a humbling loss the night before, leaning on Colton Sissons' opportunism and Juuse Saros' steadiness to edge Montreal 2-1. The game was less a spectacle than a study in efficiency — Nashville converting where it mattered, Montreal squandering five power-play chances and watching a disallowed goal silence a restless crowd. For the Canadiens, the defeat lands not merely as two lost points, but as another weight added to a roster already bending under injury.
Colton Sissons scored twice and Juuse Saros stopped 37 shots as the Nashville Predators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Sunday night at Bell Centre — a measured, disciplined win that followed a 4-0 loss to Toronto the previous evening. Nashville, now 15-13-0, have won 10 of their last 13 games.
Sissons opened the scoring in the first period, deflecting a Filip Forsberg shot past Jake Allen on the power play. He doubled the lead early in the second when he buried a rebound off Dante Fabbro's point shot into an open net — his ninth of the season. Montreal appeared to respond when Joel Armia scored off a scramble, but the goal was waved off for goaltender interference, drawing sharp frustration from the home crowd. Jake Evans answered 35 seconds later with a backhand to make it 2-1, his first goal since opening night.
The Canadiens carried the play in the third period, outshooting Nashville 14-5, and pressed hard in the final minutes with Allen pulled — but Saros and the Predators held firm. Montreal's power play, offered five chances throughout the night, went scoreless, while Nashville converted one of two. That gap in special teams execution told the story.
The defeat arrives as Montreal's injury list continues to grow. Defenceman David Savard returned after 22 games with a broken hand, but forward Tanner Pearson — who has a difficult history with hand injuries — was unavailable after being struck by a shot in Saturday's win over Buffalo. He joins Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard on the sidelines, leaving the Canadiens increasingly stretched heading into Wednesday's home game against Pittsburgh.
Colton Sissons scored twice and Juuse Saros turned away 37 shots as the Nashville Predators held off the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Sunday night at Bell Centre. The win came on the heels of a difficult Saturday for Nashville, which had lost 4-0 to Toronto the day before, but the Predators have now won 10 of their last 13 games and sit at 15-13-0 on the season.
Sissons opened the scoring at 11:41 of the first period on the power play, deflecting a Filip Forsberg shot past Jake Allen. The Canadiens, playing at home, struggled with their own man-advantage opportunities throughout the night, going 0-for-5 with the extra skater. Nashville, by contrast, capitalized on one of two power-play chances, and that efficiency proved to be the difference.
The Predators extended their lead early in the second period when Dante Fabbro's point shot bounced off Allen's right pad and found Sissons unmarked at the side of the net. Sissons buried the rebound into an open cage at 7:03, his second goal of the night and ninth of the season. Montreal appeared to answer back with a minute remaining in the period when Joel Armia scored off a scramble, but the goal was immediately waved off for goaltender interference—Brendan Gallagher had been in Saros's crease—a call that drew audible frustration from the Bell Centre crowd.
Jake Evans responded 35 seconds later with a backhand past Saros to make it 2-1, his second goal of the season and first since opening night against Toronto on October 11. The Canadiens, now trailing by one, carried momentum into the third period and dominated possession, outshooting Nashville 14-5 in the final frame. Montreal pressed hard with Allen pulled for the final 90 seconds, but Saros and the Predators' defence held firm and prevented the equalizer.
The loss came as Montreal continues to navigate a crowded injury list. Defenceman David Savard returned to the lineup after missing 22 games with a broken hand, rejoining Mike Matheson on the top pairing. Forward Tanner Pearson, however, was unavailable after taking a shot off his left hand during Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over Buffalo and did not return to that game. The 31-year-old has a history of hand injuries—he missed most of last season with a broken left hand that required multiple surgeries and played in only 14 games. Michael Pezzetta replaced Pearson in the lineup on Sunday. The Canadiens are already without forwards Kirby Dach (knee, out for the season), Alex Newhook (lower body, expected out 10-12 weeks as of early December), and Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body, expected out eight weeks as of late November). Nashville hosts Philadelphia on Tuesday, while Montreal welcomes Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Citazioni salienti
Montreal's power play went 0-for-5 while Nashville converted 1-of-2, highlighting the difference in special teams execution.— Game summary
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