NHL Game Summary - Nashville at Montreal
Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - P.K. Subban's power-play goal 4:08 into overtime sent the Montreal Canadiens into the All-Star break with a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
Subban scored on a one-timer from the point with Predators center Craig Smith in the box on a tripping penalty.
Alex Galchenyuk tied the score for Montreal 2:02 into the third period, also on a power play. The Canadiens, who had lost three of their last five coming into the game, prevented Nashville from tying Anaheim for the NHL points lead.
Carey Price, who missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, made 36 saves in the win.
The Predators, who were coming off a 5-2 loss in Detroit on Saturday, have dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Mike Ribeiro had the lone goal for the Central Division leaders and Carter Hutton allowed two goals on 27 shots.
"I don't think that last penalty was a penalty at all," said Predators coach Peter Laviolette. "It's disappointing to lose a game and to lose a point because our guys battled their hearts out. It's disappointing to lose a game that way because 5-on-5 I like the way we played. The penalties were the difference. They scored two power-play goals."
Galchenyuk scored on a re-direction through Hutton's legs after Subban faked a slap shot and fired a pass into the low slot instead, tying the score for the Canadiens after they had been outshot 28-13 over the first two periods.
"In between the second and third periods (coach Michel Therrien) came in and told us that our attitude had to be better," said Subban. "Our mindset on the ice had to be better. Nobody was happy with the way we played up to that point. We focused on winning one period and we did that."
Ribeiro scored on a deflection of Seth Jones' slap shot from inside the blue line on the high right side to give the Predators a 1-0 lead 12:10 into the second period.
The Predators outshot the Canadiens 14-4 in the first period and 14-9 in the second.
Montreal had two good chances late in the second period, both from Brendan Gallagher, but Hutton blocked the winger's slap shot on a break inside the five-minute mark and stopped his backhand deke in the crease in the final minute.