MONTREAL — Jake Evans netted the decisive goal with just over two minutes left in the final period, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.
Evans secured his 11th goal of the season by converting a pass from Joel Armia, pushing Montreal ahead after the game had been tied. The Canadiens also received goals from Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook, while goalie Sam Montembeault was stellar in net, stopping 33 shots to contribute to Montreal’s impressive record of 13 victories in their last 17 matchups.
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson continued his impressive form, extending his points streak to nine games, and Patrik Laine chipped in with two assists during the contest as well.
For Tampa Bay, Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel each found the back of the net. The Lightning began a challenging four-game road trip after suffering a 5-3 defeat to Toronto the previous night. Kucherov is on a roll, extending his points streak to 10 games. Meanwhile, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves in a losing effort.
Kucherov opened the scoring at the 14:40 mark in the first period by slipping the puck past Montembeault. Just 2:45 into the second period, Guentzel increased Tampa’s lead to 2-0. However, the Canadiens struck back quickly, scoring two goals in less than two minutes. Slafkovsky registered a power-play goal at 5:32, firing a shot past Vasilevskiy from a tight angle. Then, at 7:21, Laine assisted Newhook for a powerful one-timer in the slot, leveling the score.
**Key Insights**
The Canadiens have developed a knack for making comebacks during their recent successful stretch. In their last game against the New York Rangers, they faced deficits four times but managed to rally and ultimately secured a 5-4 overtime victory.
For the Lightning, their struggles on the road continued, as they have managed to win only one of their last eight away games.
**Critical Moment**
Montembeault played a crucial role in maintaining the game’s balance, making two key stops against Michael Eyssimont from close range with 3:43 remaining, thus preventing the Lightning from regaining the lead.
**Noteworthy Stat**
Kucherov’s scoring streak has reached 10 games, marking the 11th time in his career he has accomplished this feat. During this current stretch, he has tallied five goals and 11 assists, showcasing his offensive prowess.
**Looking Ahead**
The Lightning will continue their four-game road trip on Friday when they face off against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canadiens, on the other hand, will hit the road to take on the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday evening.
