Lane Hutson Shines as Canadiens Fall 5-2 to Predators

The Montreal Canadiens suffered a 5-2 defeat against the Nashville Predators at the Bell Centre on October 9, 2026, extending their early-season losing streak to three games despite encouraging performances from several offensive combinations. According to Global News, Montreal generated stretches of strong play, but defensive errors, inconsistent goaltending and a costly late penalty ultimately contributed to the loss.

The defeat left the Canadiens with one win in their first four games. Global News reported that Montreal had surrendered 17 goals over its previous three contests, highlighting defensive and goaltending concerns as the team sought to establish consistency early in the season.

Lane Hutson emerged as a bright spot amid the disappointing result. Montreal's defensive adjustments placed Hutson alongside Noah Dobson, a combination that recorded a 74 percent share of expected goals, according to Global News. Mike Matheson partnered with Alexandre Carrier, producing a 70 percent share, while Adam Engstrom and Arber Xhekaj posted an 89 percent share in their pairing.

Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette argued that Hutson's growing influence offered a compelling reason to focus on the Canadiens' individual talent rather than their early struggles. Drawing on decades of watching elite NHL defensemen, Todd highlighted Hutson's ability to affect play in both zones and compared his developing game to the emergence of a Montreal hockey great.

"Watching him night after night, a 162-pound shadow increasingly in charge of the game at both ends of the ice, is like watching Guy Lafleur put it all together." Todd wrote. The columnist emphasized Hutson's distinctive style while stopping short of predicting that he would surpass the greatest defensemen of previous generations.

Montreal also received encouraging contributions from its forward lines. Global News reported that Nick Suzuki opened the scoring and collected his seventh point in four games. Juraj Slafkovsky returned to Suzuki's line, while Alex Newhook, Chris Kreider and Josh Anderson formed an effective second unit that generated sustained offensive pressure.

Newhook's speed helped Montreal advance the puck through the neutral zone, while Kreider provided a strong presence near the net. Anderson also created opportunities with his aggressive play, including a third-period breakaway that resulted in a penalty. Zachary Bolduc, who had three goals early in the season, and veteran center Phillip Danault also received positive assessments from Global News.

However, Montreal's offensive progress did not prevent a decisive mistake late in the game. Matheson took a tripping penalty against Steven Stamkos after losing possession in the offensive zone, allowing Nashville to capitalize on the power play. Ryan O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal, according to the Montreal Gazette, as the Predators secured the 5-2 victory.

Special-teams defense remained another concern for the Canadiens, who conceded two additional power-play goals in the contest. The Montreal Gazette also noted that mistakes and inconsistent execution had compounded the team's difficult opening stretch, although the columnist argued that the early problems did not necessarily indicate a lasting decline.

Goaltending became an additional concern after Samuel Montembeault suffered a non-contact right-leg injury during practice. According to Global News, Montembeault underwent testing on Wednesday and required further medical assessment on Thursday. The injury created uncertainty about Montreal's depth in net after he had secured the backup role during training camp.

Jacob Fowler replaced Montembeault and delivered a promising performance. Global News reported that Fowler had recorded a .946 save percentage in two games with the Laval Rocket before his promotion. Against Nashville, he made a notable third-period save on Stamkos during a power play, denying a one-timer from approximately 10 feet.

Jakub Dobes had struggled in the opening three games, recording a .857 save percentage and a minus-4.00 goals-saved-above-expected figure, according to Global News. Those numbers contrasted with his strong performance in the previous postseason and increased scrutiny of Montreal's goaltending as the team navigated its early schedule.

The Canadiens were also without injured defenseman Kaiden Guhle and winger Ivan Demidov, according to the Montreal Gazette. Todd maintained that the team's early difficulties could improve as injured players returned and the roster settled, while identifying Hutson, Suzuki and Cole Caufield as important sources of established quality during the challenging start.