Five straight home games could be just what the Montreal Canadiens need to escape their current situation at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
They’ll try to start by stringing together back-to-back wins when the Nashville Predators visit on Thursday.
The Canadiens opened their homestand at the Bell Centre with a 2-1 overtime win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Patrik Laine made his season debut delayed by a sprained knee and opened the scoring. Captain Nick Suzuki converted at 2:39 of overtime.
«We all love playing here, and other teams do too,» Suzuki said. «We have to give it our all every night at home. They (the opponents) are excited to play here. I think in the few years I’ve been here we haven’t really played well at home, especially record-wise, but I feel like we’ve been playing better at home.»
The Canadiens, who sit last in the Eastern Conference, have a 6-5-2 record at home this season. That’s a respectable showing considering the team has had a losing record at home in each of the previous three campaigns.
«We know where we are and we have to make up for lost ground and I think playing at home, which is tough to play at home, should help us,» Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. «But once the puck drops, there’s a game to play and that’s what we’re going to focus on.»
Suzuki (three goals, four assists) and rookie defenceman Lane Hutson (five assists) have each scored points in four straight games. Suzuki leads the team in points (26) and is tied for first in assists (16) with Hutson.
Laine logged 17:27 of ice time and recorded two shots on goal in his first action since suffering his injury in a preseason game on Sept. 28.
“It was fantastic,” Laine said of playing Tuesday. “I felt a little rusty, but we got the two points, so that’s all that really matters.”
The Predators saw their losing streak extend to a season-high five games (0-2-3) and fell to 2-7-4 on the road with their 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
Nashville has scored just two goals in each game during its streak.
Jonathan Marchessault picked up his 500th career NHL point by scoring early in the first period. Captain Roman Josi picked up an assist to extend his point streak to six games (five goals, four assists).
Predators goaltender Juuse Saros will likely get a break after recording 25 saves on Tuesday, opening the door for the possible team debut of Justus Annunen. The 24-year-old was acquired along with a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday for fellow goalie Scott Wedgewood.
«I think it’s a great opportunity for me to learn from one of the best goalies in the league right now,» Annunen said of Saros. «And the goaltending department here I’ve heard nothing but good things. So I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work with all those guys and have a mentor like Juuse, see how he trains and plays… and get to know him. So it’s a perfect fit for me at this point in my career.»