Canadiens beat Predators 4-1 in Nashville as second-period surge decides March 28 matchup

Montreal pulls away after 1-0 first period at Bridgestone Arena

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena, using a decisive second period to break open a one-goal game. Montreal led 1-0 after the first, scored three times in the second to extend the margin to 4-0, and allowed a lone Nashville goal late in the third.

The result completed a season-series sweep for Montreal, which finished 2-0 against Nashville in the 2025-26 regular-season meetings.

How the scoring unfolded

Montreal opened the scoring at 11:34 of the first period when Ivan Demidov scored on a wrist shot, with Nick Suzuki credited with the assist. The Canadiens then separated in the second period with three goals in a span of 13:11.

• 3:12 (2nd) — Oliver Kapanen scored, assisted by Alex Newhook and Lane Hutson.
• 14:45 (2nd) — Cole Caufield scored, assisted by Suzuki.
• 16:23 (2nd) — Newhook scored, assisted by Demidov and Kapanen.

Nashville avoided the shutout at 16:26 of the third period when Zachary L’Heureux scored on a wrist shot, assisted by Ryan Ufko and Matthew Wood.

Goaltending and team-level indicators

Montreal goaltender Jacob Fowler stopped 23 of 24 shots for a .958 save percentage. Nashville’s Juuse Saros stopped 28 of 32 shots (.875). Montreal finished with a 32-24 advantage in shots on goal, while the teams were even at 50% in the faceoff circle.

Hits favored Nashville 25-20. Special-teams opportunities were limited; Montreal went 0-for-2 on the power play and Nashville 0-for-3.

Discipline and late-game escalation

The penalty sheet included several roughing calls, with a notable sequence late in the third period. L’Heureux was assessed both a roughing minor and a 10-minute gross misconduct at 18:05, and Nashville served the two-minute minor. The game drew 17,720 fans.

Where it left both teams in the standings picture

With the win, Montreal improved to 41-21-10 (92 points), while Nashville fell to 34-30-9 (77 points). In the division context reflected at game time, Montreal stood third in the Atlantic Division and Nashville fifth in the Central Division.

Final: Canadiens 4, Predators 1 (MTL: 1–3–0 by period; NSH: 0–0–1).