Lightning Edge Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in OT, Force Game 7
The montreal canadiens lost Game 6 1-0 in overtime and now have to reset for a winner-take-all Game 7 in Tampa on Sunday. Gage Goncalves scored at 9:03 of overtime for the Lightning, turning a series that had been level through six games into one final road test for Montreal.
Goncalves Ends Game 6
Goncalves shoveled home a rebound from the lip of Jakub Dobeš’ crease to finish the game. That was the only goal in a night where neither side could separate itself at five-on-five or in all situations through six games.
The series is tied 9-9 in aggregate five-on-five scoring and 14-14 in all situations, a reminder that the margin has been razor thin even as Tampa Bay claimed the Game 6 result. Montreal also had a reference point on the road already: it won Game 5 in Tampa 3-2 after defending a one-goal lead for nearly 19 minutes.
Martin St. Louis and the Response
Before Game 5, Martin St. Louis was asked whether Max Crozier’s massive hit on Juraj Slafkovský would define the series. He said, “Don’t let moments like that define it” and “Re-write it.” After Game 6, he stuck with the same message about how the Canadiens should handle the loss.
“We’re a confident group; we believe in what we do, how we do it,” St. Louis said. He also called Game 6 one of the best games he had seen from this young group and added, “We’ve just got to embrace the situation.”
Canadiens Head Back to Tampa
The Canadiens will fly to Tampa on Saturday and play Game 7 on Sunday. St. Louis framed the extra game as part of the team’s development, saying, “Things are meant to be, and I think it was meant to be for our growth to go play a Game 7. I think it’s going to help us grow for what’s next.”
Jake Evans called the Lightning a top team and Stanley Cup contender for a long time, while describing Montreal as “up and coming.” The Canadiens have already gone beyond their five-game playoff appearance from a year ago, and this series now reaches the kind of road game that can speed up that growth in one night.
