The Montreal Canadiens demonstrated their trademark resilience on Sunday, December 28, 2025, staging a furious four-goal third-period rally before ultimately falling 5-4 in a shootout to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena.
A Tale of Two Periods
The game was a stark contrast between the second and third periods. After a scoreless first, the Lightning seized control in the middle frame, building a commanding 3-0 lead. The Canadiens' struggles in the second period this season were highlighted once again, as their deficit in that frame grew to 50-37.
However, the narrative flipped dramatically in the final twenty minutes. The Canadiens came out flying, outshooting Tampa Bay 16-8 and outscoring them 4-1 to force overtime. The comeback was ignited by rookie Ivan Demidov, who scored early in the period.
Slafkovsky Shines in Clutch Moment
Juraj Slafkovsky was the offensive catalyst for Montreal. The 2022 first-overall pick, who has elevated his game this season, was instrumental in the comeback. He finished the night with two goals and an assist, including the dramatic game-tying goal with just 4.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
Slafkovsky, now playing on a line with fellow youngsters Demidov and Oliver Kapanen, has 13 goals and 28 points through 38 games, putting him on pace to easily surpass his career-high of 20 goals.
Overtime and Shootout Drama
The three-on-three overtime provided thrilling end-to-end action. Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler made a key pad save on Slafkovsky and later stopped Nikita Kucherov on a breakaway. At the other end, Lightning goalie Jonas Johansson made a critical stick check on Mike Matheson, and Tampa's Anthony Cirelli hit the post in the final minute.
The shootout, however, belonged to the Lightning. Both of their successful attempts beat Fowler on his glove side, securing the second point for the home team. The Canadiens' power play, which went 0-for-4 on the night, proved costly in a tight game.
Key Performances and Takeaways
Despite the loss, several Canadiens had strong statistical nights. Noah Dobson logged 27:29 of ice time, recording five shots and four blocks. Lane Hutson played a team-high 28:13. Arber Xhekaj, despite limited ice time of 7:15, made his presence felt with a first-period fight and three hits.
Captain Nick Suzuki acknowledged the team's slow start post-holiday break, citing execution issues on three first-period power plays. "We fought hard and scored four in the third period," Suzuki told reporters. "Shootouts are a tough way to lose, but I was happy with the battle we had."
Head coach Martin St. Louis focused on the positive. "I'm really proud of the way the guys fought," St. Louis said. "I don't see anything alarming from this game... Sometimes the game is hard. You've got to keep playing. That's what we did."
While the single point earned from the comeback is valuable in a tight Atlantic Division race, the missed opportunity for a second point against a tired Lightning team—who played in Florida the night before—may be a point of reflection. The Canadiens' never-quit attitude was on full display, but the search for consistency across sixty minutes continues.
