Jake Evans scored the decisive goal late in the third period, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. With this win, the Canadiens have shown remarkable resilience, notably winning 13 of their last 17 games.
Evans, assisted by Joel Armia, tallied his 11th goal of the season as the crowd in Bell Centre erupted with excitement. Other key contributions came from rookie standout Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook, who both found the back of the net. Goaltender Sam Montembeault recorded 33 saves, fortifying the Canadiens' defense throughout the match.
The Lightning initially took the lead with goals from Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel, but the Canadiens quickly countered with two goals in rapid succession to tie the game. Kucherov's point streak reached 10 games, showcasing his consistent offensive prowess.
This victory moves Montreal within a point of Tampa in the Atlantic Division, underscoring the competitive nature of the playoff race. The Canadiens’ comeback ability continues to be a hallmark of their recent success, as seen in their previous game against the New York Rangers. Both teams are now looking ahead to their next challenges: Tampa faces the Chicago Blackhawks while Montreal travels to Detroit.
