This is a picture of Brandon Hagel in the game.
The Tampa Bay Lightning erupted offensively, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 at the Bell Centre on Tuesday. Three first-period goals set the tone as Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing streak.
Early Offensive Surge
Brayden Point, Pontus Holmberg, and Nikita Kucherov powered the Lightning’s early attack. Point’s goal ended a 130-minute scoring drought, giving Tampa an immediate boost. The team’s quick start forced Montreal to play catch-up throughout the game.
Tampa Bay lightning Defencemen Shine
In his first Bell Centre game, Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored in the second period, extending the Lightning’s lead. Fellow defenceman Darren Raddysh, celebrating his 200th NHL game, added two third-period goals, sealing the decisive victory.
Tampa’s offensive depth, combined with defensive contributions, overwhelmed the Canadiens’ lineup, leaving Montreal struggling to recover.
Goaltending Adjustments
With Andrei Vasilevskiy on injured reserve, Jonas Johansson made his fourth straight start for Tampa Bay, stopping 26 shots.
Montreal’s Jakub Dobes allowed three goals on 14 shots before being replaced by Sam Montembeault, making his first appearance since December 2. Montembeault surrendered three more goals on 12 shots.
Montreal’s Struggles Continue
Oliver Kapanen scored a power-play goal late in the second period, providing the Canadiens’ only score.
Cole Caufield’s 11-game point streak ended with the loss, marking Montreal’s second consecutive defeat. The Canadiens also fell below .500 at home (7-8-1), losing seven of their last nine games at Bell Centre.
Injury Concerns for Tampa
Tampa Bay lost veteran defenceman Victor Hedman after the first period. The 34-year-old, who had missed 12 games earlier in the season, did not return to the ice, raising concerns for upcoming matchups.
Key Moments and Stats
A critical play occurred when Ivan Demidov mishandled a pass at Montreal’s blue line. Holmberg, exiting a penalty, recovered the puck and scored on a breakaway, giving Tampa a 2-0 advantage.
Jake Guentzel reached a career milestone, earning his 600th NHL point with an assist on Point’s goal, becoming the 58th U.S.-born player to do so.
Takeaways
Lightning: Tampa Bay’s offence finally found its rhythm after being shut out in two previous games. Balanced scoring from forwards and defencemen highlighted the team’s depth.
Canadiens: Montreal continues to struggle at home and needs improved goaltending and defensive stability to halt their losing streak.
What’s Next
Tampa Bay looks to carry momentum into upcoming games, while the Canadiens must regroup after a lopsided loss. Special teams, goaltending, and line adjustments will be critical for both teams moving forward.
