The Montreal Canadiens (15-19-3, 33 points, 8th Atlantic) conclude a seven-game road trip on Tuesday when paying a visit to the land of the Grand Ole Opry to play against the Nashville Predators (15-14-6, 36 points, 6th Central). Montreal was defeated by the Washington Capitals 9-2 on Saturday and the Canadians have lost five straight. Montreal is 1-5 on its road trip. Nashville was defeated by Vegas 5-4 in overtime on Friday and the Predators have lost three of their most recent four. Paul Byron, Emil Heineman, Mike Matheson, Sean Monahan, Carey Price and David Savard are out for Montreal. Mark Borowiecki and Michael McCarron are out for Nashville, while Cole Smith is questionable.
Montreal is scoring an average of just 2.59 goals per game which is 30th in the NHL. The Canadians are taking an average of 28.2 shots per game which is also 30th. Montreal's power play is last in hockey, scoring only 14.8% of time the Canadians have the man advantage. The leading goal scorer for Montreal is Cole Caufield with 21 and Nick Suzuki has scored 15 goals. No other player for Montreal has double digits in goals scored. The leader in assists is Kirby Dach with 18 and Suzuki is second with 17. Suzuki is the overall points leader with 32 and Caufield is second with 30. Montreal had scored only 18 goals on the power play in 37 games.
Montreal is allowing an average of 3.73 goals per game which is 29th in the NHL. The Canadiens are 27th in shots allowed at 33.5 per game. The penalty-kill unit for Montreal is 22n d, holding opponents scoreless 75.4% of the time the Canadians are short-handed. Jake Allen is 9-15-1 with a 3.52 goals-against average in .894 as a percentage. Montreal's second goalie, San Montembeault is 6-4-2 with a 3.23 goals-against average in .904 save percentage.