The Montreal Canadiens managed to secure a thrilling victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning, finishing the game at 3-2 thanks to Jake Evans' game-winning goal scored with 2:15 remaining on the clock. This exciting match took place at the Bell Centre on January 21, 2025, where Evans completed a fantastic pass from Joel Armia, marking his 11th goal of the season, and igniting cheers from the crowd.
The victory was significant for the Canadiens, as they triumphed for the 13th time out of their last 17 contests, boosting their record to 24 wins, 19 losses, and 4 overtime losses, leading them to 52 points overall. Evans' late goal was particularly impactful, as it broke the tie and sent the home crowd of the Bell Centre, comprised of fervent Montreal supporters, wild with excitement.
Prior to the Canadiens' comeback, the Lightning had taken the lead early, with Nikita Kucherov opening the scoring at 14:40 of the first period, followed closely by Jake Guentzel, who doubled Tampa's lead just 2:45 minutes after the start of the second period. Kucherov’s goal marked the start of his impressive points streak, which had reached ten games with five goals and eleven assists during this run.
Despite the shaky start, Montreal rallied back swiftly as Juraj Slafkovsky scored on the power play at 5:32 of the second period. Following this, Alex Newhook found the back of the net at 7:21, leveling the score. This two-goal flurry energized the Canadiens and evidenced their resilience, as they had been trailing previously. It was evident to fans and players alike — comebacks were becoming quite the trend for this squad lately.
“Comebacks are becoming a trend in Montreal’s hot stretch,” The Canadian Press reported, highlighting the Canadiens' determination. Just days prior, they had shown similar grit by overcoming the New York Rangers' four separate leads before securing the win 5-4 in overtime.
Add to the story is the remarkable performance by goalie Sam Montembeault, who turned away 33 shots from the Lightning. He made key saves at pivotal moments, including two standout denials against Michael Eyssimont with just over three minutes left. "Key moment: Montembeault denied Michael Eyssimont twice on the doorstep to prevent Tampa from taking the lead with 3:43 left," as reported by The Canadian Press.
This latest win puts the Canadiens within just one point of the third-place Lightning, intensifying the rivalry between the two teams as they jockey for position within the Atlantic Division. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has had issues on the road, marking it their seventh loss out of eight away games since the start of the year.
Looking forward, Tampa Bay will attempt to regroup on their four-game road trip with their next match set for Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. For the Canadiens, they’re preparing for their upcoming battle against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, aiming to continue their promising run.
With players like Kucherov, always dangerous, and Evans scoring late to deliver victories, this season has seen both teams gaining momentum at different paces, leaving hockey fans anxiously awaiting the next chapters of their respective seasons.
The excitement and intensity of this matchup really showcased why hockey is loved across North America. Fans were reminded once again of the Montreal Canadiens' storied history of resilience and the ever-fluctuating line of rivalry between these two powerhouse organizations.