Predators vs. Canadiens Recap: Stamkos Sets Up Two PP Goals

The Predators beat the Canadiens 5-2 on Thursday night, scoring the last five goals of the game. Montreal led 2-0 midway through the 2nd on goals from Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook. Nashville tied it before the second intermission, took the lead on a power-play goal late in the 3rd, and sealed it with two empty-netters. Montreal outshot Nashville 34-20, but Juuse Saros made 32 saves. Jacob Fowler stopped 15 of 18 for Montreal. Nashville went 2-for-5 on the power play, and Montreal went 0-for-3. Three DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Filip Forsberg under 3.5 shots on goal (-175 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Forsberg came in with 5 shots in 3 games after averaging 3.0 a game last season, so 3.5 looked like too high a bar. - What happened: Forsberg finished with 3 shots on goal, half a shot under the line. He played 19:48, with 6:02 on the power play, and picked up an assist on the tying power-play goal at 19:28 of the 2nd. - Worth watching: He is getting heavy power-play minutes, so his shot lines will stay up. We like the under when his early-season volume sits below the number, but a 3-shot night is a thin cushion, so the price matters.

ALT: Over 5.5 total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: Montreal came in allowing 4.67 goals a game, and its goaltending had been leaky, with Jakub Dobes at .856. - What happened: The game finished with 7 total goals, 1.5 over the line. It was scoreless after one period, then the 2nd produced 4 goals and the 3rd produced 3, including two empty-netters in the last three minutes. Fowler started in goal for Montreal and allowed 3 goals on 18 shots. - Worth watching: This was a longer shot that landed, and it needed the late flurry to get there. The main total was 6.5, so the alt took a full goal off the number. We keep this angle in mind against teams allowing goals at this rate.

Steven Stamkos 1+ points (-130 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Stamkos had 3 goals in 3 games, and Nashville was converting 37.5% of its power plays. - What happened: Stamkos had 0 goals and 2 assists, 1.5 over the line, and both points came on the power play. He set up Matthew Wood's tying goal at 19:28 of the 2nd and Ryan O'Reilly's tip-in go-ahead goal at 16:44 of the 3rd. He played 20:46, with 6:01 on the power play, and had 2 shots on goal. - Worth watching: This was another longer shot that landed. Stamkos and Forsberg both logged six-plus minutes on the power play, and Nashville scored twice with the man advantage. As long as he keeps that power-play role, his points line is worth a look at a fair price.

How the game played out

Montreal outshot Nashville 11-5 in a scoreless 1st, then Suzuki scored at 3:12 of the 2nd and Newhook made it 2-0 at 8:50. The swing came late in that period. Alexander Kerfoot tipped one in at 15:06, and Wood tied it on the power play at 19:28. In the 3rd, O'Reilly's power-play goal at 16:44 put Nashville ahead, and Adam Edstrom scored into the empty net at 17:23 and again at 18:34.

Trends to watch

• Nashville's power play went 2-for-5, and Stamkos and Forsberg each played about six minutes of it. That power-play time is where their point and shot props come from.
• Saros faced 34 shots and stopped 32. Montreal kept the volume high all night, so his saves lines against busy opponents are worth watching.
• Montreal put 34 shots on goal but went 0-for-3 on the power play and allowed 5 goals. That gap between shots and finish is a factor for future totals involving them.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. For more, see our NHL hub, the NHL recaps, and our explainer on the total.