Caufield and Suzuki Eye Saros at the Bell Centre
Nashville’s visit finds Montreal balancing firepower with fixes in its own end as both clubs try to gain early conference ground.
Written before the game
Both teams have been creating plenty, but the story so far is what they’re giving up. The Canadiens have conceded chances worth about 3.99 expected goals against per game — expected goals meaning how dangerous the chances were — while the Predators are not far behind at 3.68. That points to a matchup where finishing and goaltending decide it.
For Nashville, Juuse Saros figures to be central, with the Preds’ structure still settling at five‑on‑five. Montreal leans on Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki to flip games with quick strikes, but the home side needs cleaner coverage to keep from trading chances all night.
Standings matter even this early: both clubs sit in their conference’s 11th spot and hold the fifth wild‑card position, each at one win through three games. If Montreal tightens its blue‑line reads, its top line can press the edge. If Nashville protects the slot in front of Saros, their offense has room to breathe.
