NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Montreal Canadiens rallied in the second period with goals from Cole Caufield and Patrik Laine to secure a 2-1 victory against the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes was instrumental in the win, stopping 36 shots as the Canadiens extended their winning streak to five games, rebounding from a previous five-game losing streak.
Steven Stamkos scored the lone goal for Nashville, and Juuse Saros made 15 saves. The Predators struggled on power plays, going scoreless in four attempts, and suffered their sixth consecutive loss, their seventh in the last eight games.
Stamkos opened the scoring early in the first period, netting his 25th goal of the season at 4:19, assisted by Filip Forsberg.
In the second period, Caufield tied the game less than two minutes in, capitalizing on a pass from Nick Suzuki for his 36th goal. Laine then scored the decisive goal just over four minutes later, marking his 20th of the season.
Matthew Wood, a 20-year-old winger and the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his NHL debut for Nashville, recording one shot in over 13 minutes of play.
Key Takeaways
Canadiens: Montreal (38-30-9) solidified their hold on the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are now five points behind Ottawa (42-29-6, 90 points) and six points ahead of both the New York Rangers (36-33-7) and Detroit Red Wings (36-33-7).
Predators: Saros`s struggles continued as he faced his third straight loss and fourth in his last six games.
Turning Point
Lane Hutson`s assist on Laine`s goal was significant, marking his 58th assist of the season and 64th point, tying Chris Chelios` franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman. Hutson is 21 years old and hails from Holland, Michigan.
Stat of the Game
Despite being outshot 37-17 overall, and particularly 15-8 in the second period, Montreal capitalized on their opportunities, scoring two goals in the second to take and maintain the lead. Nashville dominated shots in the second period but couldn`t convert.
Looking Ahead
The Canadiens will host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, while the Predators will host the New York Islanders on the same day.
