Canadiens visit Predators looking to reset after Hurricanes letdown

The Montreal Canadiens continue their early-season schedule tonight in Nashville, taking on the Predators in their fourth game of the year. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, with coverage on TSN2 and RDS in the Canadiens’ region, SCRIPPS in the Predators’ market, and streaming on ESPN+, RDS, and TSN+. Montreal arrives in Tennessee trying to respond to a frustrating home loss against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Canadiens seek response after worrying showing vs. Hurricanes

After two encouraging results on the road to open the season, the Canadiens’ first game back at the Bell Centre ended in a 6-4 regulation defeat, capped by an empty-net goal. The concern coming out of that night had less to do with the margin and more with how similar the performance looked to the one that closed their playoff run, when Carolina knocked them out with four straight wins. Much of the off-season focus had been placed on adjusting to deal with that opponent more effectively.

Montreal will not see the Hurricanes again until November 19 in Raleigh, by which point roughly a quarter of the Canadiens’ 84-game schedule will be complete. Head coach Derek Lalonde is using the stretch between meetings to entrench a new style of play and have his roster grow comfortable with tactical changes. A less emotionally charged game against a Western Conference opponent gives the staff a cleaner read on whether the group is executing as planned.

On paper, the Canadiens and Predators share identical 1-1-1 records, but the paths to that mark differ. Montreal sits near the top of the league in goals scored, averaging 4.00 per outing, yet owns one of the weakest defensive records at 4.67 goals against per game. Their expected-goal share is among the lowest in the NHL, and both special-teams units sit in the lower half of the rankings, with modest results on the power play and penalty kill.

Nick Suzuki leads Montreal with six points and shares the club assist lead with Lane Hutson, while Zachary Bolduc tops the goal column with three. Offence has not been the issue; the challenge is handling pressure with the puck and avoiding missed assignments that proved costly against Carolina. Tonight’s contest offers an immediate chance to clean up those areas after the first regulation loss of the season.

Predators need scoring depth beyond Stamkos and Höglander

Nashville entered the year aiming for a fast start to stay relevant in the Central Division after missing the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The Predators dropped their opener to the Minnesota Wild, then bounced back by defeating the Dallas Stars. Their most recent outing, however, saw them surrender a 3-0 lead to the Toronto Maple Leafs before falling in overtime, a result that cost them a valuable point in the standings.

Offensively, the Predators have relied heavily on a small group. Through three games, only three players have scored: Steven Stamkos and Nils Höglander have three goals each, while Roman Josi has one. Filip Forsberg has yet to register a goal this season and has been kept off the scoresheet against Montreal for the past two years. Nashville managed only three total goals versus the Canadiens in 2025-26, a defensive standard Montreal’s coaches will be eager to match again.

Statistically, Nashville also sits at 1-1-1, but with a more modest attack at 2.33 goals per game and a tighter defensive record of 3.00 goals against. Their expected-goal share is closer to the league middle, and their power play has been a bright spot so far, ranking among the most efficient in the NHL, while the penalty kill posts a success rate similar to Montreal’s.

For the Canadiens, this trip to Nashville is an opportunity to show that the setback against Carolina was a blip rather than a sign of deeper issues. If Montreal can limit turnovers, withstand forechecking pressure, and stay organized in its own zone, the team’s early offensive output suggests it has enough firepower to leave Music City with a result that better reflects its ambitions as a contender.