Predators Beat Canadiens 5-2 Behind Ryan O’Reilly’s Goal, Reuters Reports

Ryan O’Reilly propelled the visiting Nashville Predators to a 5-2 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on October 8, 2026, by netting the game-winner on a power play with 3:16 left in the third period, as reported by Reuters. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for Nashville against Montreal.

Power Play Secures Predators Victory

O’Reilly broke the tie by deflecting a point shot from captain Roman Josi past Jacob Fowler while Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson was in the penalty box for tripping. That late score gave the Predators a 3-2 lead in the third period. Defenseman Adam Edstrom sealed the outcome shortly after with a pair of empty-net goals.

Nashville’s Alexander Kerfoot and Matthew Wood also scored during the second period. Juuse Saros stopped 32 shots to secure the win.

Canadiens Struggle in Third Loss

Montreal captain Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook both scored in the second period for the Canadiens, who dropped their third straight game and sit at 0-2-1 on the young season. Fowler turned aside 15 shots in his first start of the season. The goaltender was promoted from Laval of the American Hockey League after Sam Montembeault left practice with an apparent lower-body injury.

Suzuki opened the scoring 3:12 into the second period with a sharp backhand past Saros while teams skated four aside. Anderson later forced a turnover behind the Nashville net and fed Newhook for a close-range shot that doubled the lead at 8:50 of the middle frame. Kerfoot cut the deficit with 4:54 left in the period off a point shot from Adam Wilsby, before Wood tied it 2-2 with 32 seconds remaining.

Rule 63.7 Allows Tied Goal to Stand

Wood converted from in front of the net with several bodies in the blue paint while the net was off its moorings. The goal stood following a review under Rule 63.7. The rule permits a goal if the net is displaced by a defending player’s actions, the attacker has an imminent scoring opportunity, and the puck would have entered between the normal post positions. In this instance, Josh Anderson had cross-checked Steven Stamkos into the post.