Fuelled by a pre-game ceremony honouring former defenceman P.Ok. Subban, the Montreal Canadiens stepped up their sport proper from the beginning.
In a 4-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Monday, the Canadiens had been outshot 19-6 in what head coach Martin St. Louis known as an “unacceptable” first interval. On Thursday, Montreal turned the tables outshooting Nashville 19-8 within the opening body of a 4-3 win over the Predators.
“We’re engaged on correcting this and tonight was a very good instance,” St. Louis mentioned. “If you have a look at Nashville’s first aim, we’re nonetheless taking part in a very good first interval and we stored preventing.
“I’m glad the blokes obtained rewarded but it surely’s not simply the win, it is how we did it. I’m extra glad for our sport than our outcome.”
Cole Caufield scored two power-play targets, whereas Kirby Dach had one aim and one help for Montreal (17-22-3). Jake Evans added the opposite marker and Jonathan Drouin dished out three assists.
Samuel Montembeault made 39 saves.
“I feel our particular groups was a fairly large deal,” mentioned Caufield “Penalty kill and energy play, we’re making an attempt to get in the suitable route with these classes but it surely certain is an enormous step for us and we’re making an attempt to maintain that going.”
WATCH | Caufield pots a pair to push Habs previous Preds:
Caufield leads Habs to win over Predators
Cole Caufield scored twice as Montreal defeated Nashville 4-3.
Nino Niederreiter, Filip Forsberg and Juuso Parssinen replied for Nashville (19-16-6), which dropped its second in a row. The Predators now maintain a 3-8 report within the latter finish of back-to-back units.
Nashville head coach John Hynes mentioned his group gave “40 minutes” of effort, beginning within the second interval.
“Both groups needed to be prepared for it,” Hynes mentioned about staying targeted throughout Subban’s pre-game ceremony. “They had been prepared for it, we weren’t.”
In his NHL debut, Yaroslav Askarov stopped 31-of-35 pictures.
“First sport within the NHL. Awesome, superior,” Askarov mentioned. “Yes, we lose however I’ll bear in mind this sport endlessly.”
Montreal pressured the rookie goaltender with a 5-0 shot depend early.
“Of course, it wasn’t straightforward with so many pictures,” he mentioned, in Russian, by means of teammate Yakov Trenin who helped translate. “But it helped me really feel higher.”
However, it was Niederreiter who broke the ice at 10:35. He tipped in a puck from Roman Josi, who despatched a centring move from the slot.
Evans tied the sport just below three minutes later when he despatched a shot on internet that Askarov could not get sufficient on to cease it.
The Canadiens took a 2-1 benefit at 15:08 when Jesse Ylonen discovered Dach open close to the left submit and fired in a one-timer.
Nashville levelled the rating 12 seconds into the second interval when Matt Duchene discovered Forsberg in entrance of the web.
Midway by means of the body, Nick Suzuki despatched a cross-ice move to Caufield who gave Montreal its second lead of the night time on the person benefit.
Caufield bagged his second power-play aim 6:15 into the ultimate body, taking a cross-ice move from Dach for the one-timer.
The Predators, who outshot the Canadiens 20-7 within the interval, pulled Askarov with just below three minutes remaining. With 1:29 left, Parssinen lower their deficit to 1 aim with a slap shot.
Habs honour Subban
The Montreal Canadiens honoured Subban, who retired forward of the 2022-23 season. Subban addressed the gang and was met with a standing ovation.
“It’s at all times an emotional time and the respect is overwhelming,” the previous defenceman mentioned. “Everybody desires to be revered however when it is like that, you by no means actually know find out how to deal with it. I simply tried to take it in stride and be appreciative of the truth that I performed right here.”
WATCH | Subban honoured by Canadiens in return to Montreal:
P. Ok. Subban returns to Montreal, honoured by Canadiens
P.Ok. Subban was honoured forward of the Canadiens versus Predators sport, and was congratulated by Montreal goalie Carey Price.
Subban added that Canadiens proprietor Geoff Molson reached out to him not lengthy after his retirement to supply the chance for the ceremony.
“He’s a legend right here and he is performed plenty of nice issues in the neighborhood and for the group,” mentioned Caufield. “To have a man like that come again and have a standing ovation like that, it is fairly particular to be right here and a cool second for him.”
The Toronto native spent the primary seven of his 13 seasons with the Canadiens. He additionally performed for the Predators and the New Jersey Devils. He totalled 467 factors (115 targets, 352 assists) in 834 profession video games and received the Norris trophy because the league’s prime defenceman in 2013.
