The Montreal Canadiens have lost three straight (0-2-1) going into their game against the visiting Detroit Red Wings in an Original Six matchup Saturday night.
The Habs’ last two defeats came at home, the most recent a 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.
The Canadiens fell despite being the better team and out-chancing the Predators for most of the contest. Montreal had a 33-20 shot advantage.
“I thought we outplayed them the majority of the game,” said Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who picked up a goal. “We just didn’t score on our chances.”
Montreal led 2-0 in the second period before surrendering five consecutive goals. Nashville tied it 2-2 on a power play with 32 seconds left in the middle period.
“I thought we were playing a good game,” Montreal goalie Jacob Fowler said. “The second period we were all over them and their goalie made some big saves there, and it sucks to give up that one late.”
A power-play goal by Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly with 3:16 left broke the 2-2 tie, and the Predators added two empty-net goals.
Montreal coach Martin St. Louis juggled all but the third line of Phillip Danault between Zackary Bolduc and Alexandre Texier throughout the game.
Alex Newhook also scored for the Canadiens. Fowler made 15 saves after he was recalled from AHL Laval on Wednesday in response to Sam Montembeault sustaining a lower-body injury in practice. Montembeault will be out 10 to 14 days.
“We play like that, we’ll probably win more than most,” Canadiens forward Cole Caufield said. “… I feel pretty good going into Saturday.”
Suzuki has three goals and four assists through four games.
The Red Wings, who have lost three of four this season, are also coming off a defeat in which they outshot their opponents by a wide margin.
Detroit dropped a 6-3 decision to the visiting Seattle Kraken on Friday night, even though the Red Wings registered a 40-24 shot advantage.
The Red Wings took a 2-1 lead four minutes into the second period on rookie defenseman William Wallinder’s first career goal. However, the Kraken re-tied it just 39 seconds later, which began an onslaught of four goals in 9:26.
“We got loose and impatient and didn’t stick with it,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “And all of a sudden, the puck’s in our net and we’re chasing.”
Detroit starting goalie John Gibson was pulled after allowing five goals on 15 shots. He was replaced by Daniil Tarasov, who is scheduled to get his first Red Wings start Saturday night. The 27-year-old Russian gave up one goal on nine shots.
Red Wings rookie Michael Brandsegg-Nygard got his first NHL goal in the third period after logging a second-period assist.
Alex DeBrincat, playing in his 700th game, picked up his 600th career point by assisting on Wallinder’s goal.
“I just think we got a little lazy, a little soft on pucks,” DeBrincat said. “… Learn from it, go on (Saturday) and get two points.”
Viktor Arvidsson also scored for Detroit, his team-leading third goal, all on the power play.
The Red Wings won the last two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 4-0 victory in the lone meeting at Montreal.