Game 5: Montreal Canadiens vs. Nashville Predators
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Predators region: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+, TSN+, RDS+
Things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Nashville Predators than they did last season. They went into the campaign with Barry Trotz the early favourite for general manager of the year after signing Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, but when the 82nd game was completed they sat third-last in the NHL at 68 points.
Struggling to keep the puck out of their net was one issue as they surrendered 274 goals; only five teams allowed more. But the bigger issue considering the off-season moves they made was scoring goals of their own. The found the net a measly 214 times, four more than the San Jose Sharks, despite being a league-average club on the power play. Marchessault had just 56 points, and Stamkos had fewer than 30 goals in a full season schedule for the first time since his rookie year. The only player who had a season he could be proud of was Filip Forsberg, posting 76 points in 82 games.
The Canadiens saw that lack of offence in the season series when Nashville managed to score just one goal in the two games. Those regulation wins came in handy for Montreal in their successful playoff chase at the end of the season.
Tale of the Tape
| Canadiens | Statistics | Predators |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1-0 | Record | 2-1-1 |
| 49.5% (17th) | Expected-goal share | 47.0% (22nd) |
| 3.75 (6th) | Goals per game | 3.00 (T-17th) |
| 3.00 (T-13th) | Goals against per game | 3.00 (T-13th) |
| 17.7% (20th) | PP% | 5.9% (30th) |
| 78.6% (20th) | PK% | 91.7% (T-6th) |
| 2-0-0 | Head-to-Head Record (24-25) | 0-2-0 |
| Bolduc/Caufield (3) | Most goals | Erik Haula, 2 others (2) |
| Nick Suzuki (6) | Most assists | Roman Josi, 6 others (2) |
| Nick Suzuki (6) | Most points | Haula/Marchessault (4) |
It’s very early, but things are going better for the Predators in 2025-26. They’re scoring a much more respectable three goals per game and allowing the same amount through four games, with the majority of those given up coming in Tuesday’s 7-4 loss in Toronto. The offence is coming from throughout the lineup, seeing 10 players with at least two points already. They enter the third match of a four-game trip through Canada with a winning record, aiming to stay in what could be a season-long battle for a post-season place in the Central Division.
Patrik Laine had goals in both games versus Nashville last season, two of the 20 he had after entering the lineup on December 3. He doesn’t have any goals so far this season and just recorded his first point on Tuesday, but it was a key assist as he set up a late tying goal for Ivan Demidov just after a power play had expired.
Looking just at Laine’s offensive numbers — even his shot total is low at six on the season — it seems like a disappointing start. But he’s often been the forward with an eye on defensive duties on his line, regularly rotating back to cover for pinching defencemen and tracking back through the neutral zone to break up or prevent odd-man rushes. He’s moving on the ice much better than last season and clearly trying to be a more all-around player. Offence should be the least worrisome part of his game, especially with the Canadiens creating so many chances (even if they are too hesitant to take most of them). It’s still a process to develop some chemistry between Laine and linemates Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. Whether that line finds it or some tweaks are made to shake up the formation, Laine should find some offensive success of his own if he maintains this level of engagement.
