Montreal Canadiens player Jake Evans, wearing jersey number 71, shared a celebratory moment with teammates Kirby Dach (77) and Patrik Laine (92) after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The action took place during the third period of an NHL game in Montreal on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The game was covered by Graham Hughes for The Canadian Press.
Montreal Canadiens fans had plenty to cheer about as their team delivered a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. The hard-fought win earned the Canadiens two crucial points, pushing them into the wild-card spot in the fiercely competitive Eastern Conference.
Juraj Slafkovsky, one of Montreal’s standout players, wasted no time checking the standings after the game. “I was the first one to grab my phone and look,” he admitted, soaking in the excitement of being in playoff contention. For a team that struggled at the bottom of the league standings last season, the upward climb is a welcome change.
Jake Evans was the hero of the night, scoring the game-winning goal with just over two minutes left in regulation, capping a stunning comeback from a 2-0 deficit. The Canadiens have been on a hot streak, with 13 wins in their last 17 games, moving within one point of the Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Slafkovsky reflected on the mindset shift within the team. “When you’re losing, you try to ignore the standings. But when you’re winning, you want to see where everyone stands.” Head coach Martin St. Louis tempered the excitement, reminding his players that there’s still plenty of hockey left to play. “It’s tight out there. The standings might look nice today, but we have to keep earning points every week,” he said.
Tuesday’s victory highlighted the team’s resilience. Despite being outshot 35-22 by Tampa Bay, Montreal’s goaltender, Sam Montembeault, stood tall, making crucial saves, especially in the final period. Montembeault, bouncing back from a tough loss to Toronto over the weekend, kept the Lightning’s relentless offence at bay, particularly during a late-game push where Tampa unleashed 15 shots in the third period.
Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook scored two quick goals in the second period to erase Tampa’s early 2-0 lead, setting the stage for Evans’ dramatic game-winner. Montembeault’s stellar performance earned praise from his coach. “He gave us a chance to win tonight. When you’re not at your best, your goalie can save the game, and that’s exactly what he did,” St. Louis said.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s struggles on the road continued. The Lightning have lost seven of their last eight away games, and the disappointment was clear. “We played well, but it stings to lose like this,” Lightning forward Jake Guentzel remarked.
As the playoff race tightens, teams like the Canadiens, Senators, and Bruins remain neck-and-neck, with several others still in the hunt. The Canadiens must maintain their momentum to stay competitive in the crowded Eastern Conference.
Montembeault also faces some added pressure, with backup goalie Jakub Dobes thriving in his NHL debut. While the internal competition might seem daunting, St. Louis sees it as a positive. “You always want that healthy competition. It pushes everyone to be better,” he said.
