CANADIENS CAPITALIZE ON MISTAKES AS PREDATORS DROP 5–2 DECISION IN MONTREA

Game 5: Canadiens 5 vs Predators 2

Montreal, Quebec - The Nashville Predators showed life in the second half of Thursday night’s matchup at the Bell Centre, but a costly stretch of penalties and defensive breakdowns proved too much to overcome in a 5–2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Robby Fabbri scored both goals for Nashville—his second straight multi-goal performance—but Montreal’s depth attack and timely execution closed the door on any comeback bid.

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Slow Start Hurts Nashville Again

The Predators surrendered the first goal for the fourth time in five games this season, as Montreal capitalized early. Tyler Toffoli beat Nashville netminder Jake Allen on a wrister from the right circle at 7:36 of the opening period.

Despite outshooting the Canadiens 12–8 in the first frame and pushing puck possession, Nashville couldn’t convert on scoring chances. Canadiens goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stood tall and never allowed the Predators to establish sustained net-front pressure.
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Penalty Trouble Flips the Game

Montreal seized control in the second period thanks to back-to-back Nashville penalties. Captain Jacob Trouba was called for holding just 25 seconds in, and Montreal cashed in on the power play when Shea Theodore ripped a point shot through traffic at 1:02.

The Predators pushed back midway through the period, finally breaking through when Robby Fabbri buried a quick pass from Oskar Sundqvist at 11:18 to cut the deficit to one.

But the response was short-lived. Montreal struck twice in 12 seconds—goals by Jake Neighbours and Carter Verhaeghe—during a chaotic defensive shift that left Nashville scrambling in its own zone.

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Preds Show Fight, But Canadiens Close It Out

Nashville generated momentum in the third period and clawed back into the game when Fabbri struck again on the power play at 11:13, picking a corner glove-side on Hellebuyck. The goal made it a 4–2 game and gave the Predators renewed hope.

But three minutes later, Montreal delivered the dagger. Tage Thompson buried a rebound at 14:37 to restore a three-goal lead. From there, the Canadiens locked down defensively and controlled the rest of the game.

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Allen Battles, Fabbri Stays Hot

Jake Allen made 29 saves but received little help during key stretches as Montreal generated repeated net-front looks on broken plays and rebounds.

Robby Fabbri was a bright spot for Nashville, now leading the team with three goals in his last two games. Oskar Sundqvist added two assists and now has five assists in his last three outings.

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Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Lane Lambert:

“We’re competing, but we’re making the wrong mistakes at the wrong time. Penalties hurt us tonight, and we didn’t manage pressure well. That has to change.”

Forward Robby Fabbri:

“I like the fight we showed to stay in it, but we’ve got to start better. We keep playing from behind, and that wears on a team.”

Defenseman Marcus Pettersson:

“We’re not far off, but ‘not far off’ doesn’t count in this league. We have to tighten up details and get harder around our own crease.”