12/28/25 07:22:00
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12/28 19:21 CST Lightning hold off the Canadiens 5-4, extend winning streak to
4 games
Lightning hold off the Canadiens 5-4, extend winning streak to 4 games
By ERIK ERLENDSSON
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) --- Nikita Kucherov scored twice, Gage Goncalves added two
assists and had the deciding goal in the shootout as the Tampa Bay Lightning
held off the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on Sunday.
Oliver Bjorkstrand had two assists for Tampa Bay. Nick Paul and Pontus Holmberg
also scored for the Lightning, who won their fourth straight game. Jonas
Johansson stopped 32 shots and both attempts in the shootout.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice, including the tying goal with 3.8 seconds left,
and added an assist as Montreal rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 in the
third period to secure a point. Noah Dobson had a goal and an assist, and Ivan
Demidov also scored for the Canadiens. Jacob Fowler finished with 18 saves for
Montreal, which played its first game coming out of the Christmas break.
Kucherov scored two of Tampa Bay's three goals in the second period.
Goncalves fed Kucherov for a breakaway goal at 2:28 of the second. Kucherov
scored again at 12:11 when Goncalves missed a 2-on-1 chance wide, but Brayden
Point picked up the rebound and quickly fed Kucherov above the crease.
Paul made it 3-0 at 14:49.
Demidov broke up Johansson's shutout bid 1:06 into the third period, poking in
a Slafkovsky pass above the paint. But Holmberg answered 34 seconds later,
deflecting a Bjorkstrand pass to score in his fourth consecutive game. Montreal
then scored three times in the final 10:44 of the third.
Slafkovsky started the comeback at 9:16 before and Dobson scored at 12:17 to
make it a one-goal game.
Earlier Sunday, Tampa Bay activated Brandon Hagel from injured reserve after
missing four games and placed defenseman Ryan McDonagh on injured reserve,
three games after he returned from an 18-game absence.
Up next
Canadiens: At Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Lightning: At Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
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