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Nashville Predators Stumble Against Montreal Canadiens: A Closer Look

The Nashville Predators, with a record of 7-14-6, faced off against the Montreal Canadiens, who held a 10-13-3 record. The game concluded with the Canadiens securing a 3-0 victory over the Predators.


Dec 5, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Nashville Predators center Jonathan Marchessault (81) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Game Highlights


The match was intensely contested, showcasing both teams' defensive and offensive skills. The Predators struggled to find the back of the net despite generating 29 shots on goal. Their powerplay opportunities remained uncapitalized, with zero goals scored from five chances. This lack of scoring efficiency was evident as their shooting percentage stayed at zero throughout the game.


On the defensive side, Nashville's goaltender Justus Annunen made an impressive effort with 27 saves out of 30 shots faced, reflecting a save percentage of one hundred percent for most gameplay situations except for an empty-net goal that sealed their fate towards the end.


Dec 5, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with his teammates at the bench during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

In contrast, Montreal's strategy paid off by converting one out of three powerplay opportunities and adding an empty-netter to secure their win. Their goaltender Sam Montembeault emerged as one of the stars of the game by stopping all 29 shots he faced from Nashville, contributing significantly to his team's shutout victory.


Player Performances


Several players from both teams stood out due to their contributions on ice. For Nashville Predators, Filip Forsberg led his team in hits with four and takeaways with two but couldn't break through Montreal's defense to score. Roman Josi played for over twenty-seven minutes but also failed to contribute points on this occasion.


Dec 5, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) skates against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

From Montreal Canadiens' roster, Jake Evans and Patrik Laine were among those recognized for their performance during this matchup. Evans contributed significantly while Laine’s efforts helped in maintaining pressure that eventually led to scoring opportunities for his team.


Looking Ahead


The Nashville Predators are set to face off against Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on December 7th at 7:00 PM EDT. Fans can catch this upcoming game live on ESPN+ or FDSSO networks as they hope for a rebound performance from their team following this setback.


Share this article if you're looking forward to seeing how Nashville will adjust strategies and bounce back in their next game!

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