Montreal Canadiens dominate Nashville Predators 6-3, despite hat trick from Matt Duchene

The Canadiens, who made a unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, have struggled this season.

Former Predators captain Shea Weber's playing future is in doubt as he remains on long-term injured reserve. Goalie Carey Price has not played this season after entering the league's player assistance program, and recently opened up about his battle with substance abuse.

His backup, Jake Allen has been out for a while, too, with a concussion.

Things got better for them Saturday night, though, when they topped the Predators 6-3, despite a hat trick from Matt Duchene.

Artturi Lehkonen's first goal of the season put the home team ahead 2:41 into the first on his team's first shot on goal.

Luke Kunin looked to have tied it with 11:28 left in the first, when the puck bounced off Sam Montembeault's back and into the net, but officials immediately waved it off because it deflected off the goalie's hand.

Montreal made it 2-0 on Christian Dvorak's tap-in goal 1:06 into the second. Not long after, the Predators' deficit became 3-0 after Brendan Gallagher put the puck past Juuse Saros on a power play.

That lead increased by another goal when Ryan Poehling scored with 9:31 left in the second.

Twenty-one seconds later Poehling made it 5-0, prompting Predators coach John Hynes to pull Saros.

A line brawl broke out late in the second, after Josh Anderson got the best of Mathieu Olivier, which resulted in a 10-minute misconduct call on Mark Borowiecki.

Duchene's team-leading 10th goal, this one on the power play during the third period, ensured the Predators would not be shut out for the second straight game.

Another power-play goal from Duchene cut the Predators' deficit to 5-2 with 7:07 left. He completed his natural hat trick with 3:33 remaining. The third goal made him the fastest to reach 12 in Predators history.

Tyler Toffoli scored an empty-netter with 1:30 left to make it 6-3.

Nick Cousins returned from injured reserve for the Nashville Predators (9-7-1). Filip Forsberg did not, missing his eighth consecutive game.

The Canadiens (5-13-2) had lost their previous four games, and were off to their worst start since 1940.

Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Matt Duchene has hat trick, but Nashville Predators fall to Canadiens