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Brandon Hagel netted two goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning recovered from a two-goal deficit, overcoming the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in an intense Game 4 marked by significant momentum shifts and powerful physical plays, thereby evening the first-round playoff series at two victories each.
Hagel, scoring his sixth goal of the current playoffs, secured the decisive goal at the 15:07 mark of the third period when Nikita Kucherov’s shot from the half-wall redirected off him and into the net.
This crucial goal came moments after the Canadiens had successfully defended a 71-second 5-on-3 power play, igniting the Bell Centre crowd, following Kucherov’s fall into the boards from a cross-check by Jake Evans, with Mike Matheson already serving a penalty.
Montreal subsequently gained a power play — evolving into a 6-on-4 advantage with an empty net — at 17:27 after Kucherov was penalized for slashing, but they were unable to find the tying goal.
Jake Guentzel contributed a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay, while Kucherov and J.J. Moser each provided two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy registered 16 saves.
Caufield, Bolduc find the net for Montreal
Cole Caufield and Zachary Bolduc were the scorers for Montreal. Jakub Dobes made 17 stops in what was the first game of the series to conclude within regulation time.
The preceding three matches had all extended into overtime. Lane Hutson netted the Game 3 winner in a 3-2 triumph on Friday, giving the Canadiens a 2-1 series lead after both teams secured a win in the initial two games held in Tampa, Florida.
The series will move back to Florida for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Bolduc opened the scoring at 10:06 in the second period after receiving a long pass from Kaiden Guhle. He drove towards the net with Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh closely defending him, and Vasilevskiy’s poke check deflected off his chest and in.
Caufield extended the lead on the power play with 6:31 left, marking his first goal of the post-season following a 51-goal regular season.
Nick Suzuki located him unattended in front of the net, prompting an uproar from the Bell Centre audience — and the throngs outside — as Caufield celebrated by dropping to his knees.
A contentious, disorderly conclusion to the second period unfolded, featuring a significant skirmish, additional penalties, and a formidable check.
Does the ‘loudest arena in the league’ fulfill its reputation? We bring you inside and outside the home of the Montreal Canadiens to witness the atmosphere when the Habs secure a victory.
Max Crozier, making his first appearance of this post-season, delivered a crushing hit on Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky at center ice with 2:12 remaining in the period, eliciting a collective gasp from the spectators.
The Slovakian forward got up and struggled off the ice before heading directly down the tunnel. No infraction was called on the play.
Slafkovsky rejoined the game in the third period to chants of “Slaf-kov-sky!”, but not before Guentzel narrowed the Canadiens’ advantage with 54 seconds left in the second period, converting a cross-ice pass from Moser during 4-on-4 action.
The Lightning nearly scored once more in the closing moments during a scramble in front of the net.
Hagel eventually leveled the score on the power play 1:40 into the third frame when Kucherov provided a setup for a tap-in after Oliver Kapanen was penalized for high-sticking.
This intensely competitive series follows a regular season where both teams accumulated 106 points, with Tampa Bay holding the tiebreaker based on regulation wins.
It pits a long-established powerhouse in Tampa Bay — Stanley Cup champions in 2020 and 2021 — against an ascending Montreal squad striving to emulate that path to success.
The series is now a best-of-three to determine whether youthful energy or seasoned expertise advances.
