The Tampa Bay Lightning evened their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens at 2-2 with a gritty 3-2 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night at Amalie Arena. The turning point came midway through the second period when Lightning defenseman Max Crozier delivered a powerful hit on Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, shifting momentum and igniting a Tampa comeback that erased a 2-0 deficit.
Montreal had built an early lead through goals from Zack Bolduc and Cole Caufield, both coming on the power play during the first period. The Canadiens entered the second period with a 2-0 advantage, looking to take control of the series. However, the game changed dramatically at the 12:38 mark of the second frame when Crozier leveled Slafkovsky along the boards with a clean, physical check.
The hit energized the Tampa Bay bench and sparked a three-goal unanswered run. Brandon Hagel scored the Lightning’s first goal at 14:12 of the second period to cut the deficit in half. Hagel then added the tying goal early in the third period at 2:18 before completing the comeback with the go-ahead marker at 14:05 of the final frame.
Jake Guentzel contributed a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay, while Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes made several key stops to maintain his team in the game despite the barrage of shots in the final twenty minutes. The Lightning outshot Montreal 15-5 in the third period alone as they pressed for the winner.
Following the game, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper praised the impact of Crozier’s hit, stating it was a clear momentum changer that got the team “out of our seats.” Defenseman J.J. Moser echoed the sentiment, noting that big physical plays are giving energy to the bench and the team as a whole in what has grow an increasingly physical series.
For Montreal, the loss was particularly frustrating given their strong start and inability to maintain momentum when challenged. The young Canadiens have struggled at times to reclaim control of games after losing it, a pattern that continued in Game 4 as they failed to hold their early lead despite outshooting Tampa Bay in the first two periods.
Juraj Slafkovsky, who had recorded a hat trick in Game 1 of the series, remained scoreless in Game 4 after the Crozier hit appeared to affect his effectiveness for the remainder of the contest. The 22-year-old Slovak forward, selected first overall by Montreal in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has been a key offensive contributor for the Canadiens throughout the playoffs.
The series now shifts back to Tampa Bay for Game 5 on Wednesday night, with both teams aware that the winner will take a crucial 3-2 series lead. Game 5 is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM local Eastern Time at Amalie Arena, continuing what has become a tightly contested and physically demanding first-round matchup between two Eastern Conference rivals.
The Lightning will look to build on the energy generated from Game 4’s comeback, while the Canadiens will seek to regain their early-game form and establish sustained pressure throughout all sixty minutes. With the series tied, each subsequent game carries increased significance as both clubs push toward advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
As the best-of-seven series returns to Tampa, fans on both sides anticipate another hard-fought contest where momentum, physical play and timely scoring will likely determine which team gains the upper hand in this evenly matched playoff showdown.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Lightning-Canadiens series as it progresses toward its conclusion.
