Lightning Rally Past Canadiens 3-2 to Tie Series — Habs
The Lightning beat the habs 3-2 in Game 4 on Sunday night, and the first-round series is even after Tampa Bay’s comeback. Montreal led twice in the second period before the game flipped on a mid-ice hit and a late push from the Lightning.
Bolduc Opens, Caufield Answers
Montreal struck first on a second-period sequence that started with Kaiden Guhle sending the puck to Alexandre Texier, who fed Zachary Bolduc for the opening goal. Bolduc’s shot hit Andrei Vasilevskiy, then pinballed off him and into the net.
The Canadiens doubled the lead on the power play when Nick Suzuki connected with Cole Caufield. Caufield scored his first goal of the playoffs, and Lane Hutson picked up the assist to keep his run moving to nine points in nine playoff games.
Crozier Changes The Game
Tampa Bay’s shift came later in the second period when Max Crozier delivered a mid-ice hit on Juraj Slafkovsky. Slafkovsky went to the dressing room to be tended to after the collision, and the Lightning used the opening to seize control of the pace.
Josh Anderson and Arber Xhekaj had already been physical factors for Montreal, but the game turned on one sequence and one bounce. The source described it as a flukiest of moments in Tampa Bay’s favor, and that is exactly how a one-goal playoff game can swing.
Hutson’s Night, Montreal’s Miss
Hutson was one of the Canadiens’ few steady sources of production. His assist on the power-play goal gave him nine points in nine playoff games, but it did not protect Montreal from losing a game it had twice led.
For Tampa Bay, the 3-2 win resets the matchup and hands the Lightning the momentum after Game 4. For Montreal, the series heads on with the margin gone and the physical battle still very much intact.
