Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Alexandre Texier scored the decisive goal barely sixty seconds into the final period, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday evening, establishing a 3-2 advantage in their opening-round series.
First-year player Jakub Dobes made 38 saves, bringing Montreal one win closer to progressing, a feat they haven’t achieved since their defeat by the Lightning in the 2021 Stanley Cup finals.
Brendan Gallagher netted his initial goal in his inaugural appearance of the series, and Kirby Dach also contributed a goal for the Canadiens.
The sixth match is scheduled for Friday night in Montreal, a venue where the teams previously shared victories in Games 3 and 4. Every one of the five contests has been settled by a single goal, with the initial three requiring an extra period.
Dominic James notched his inaugural playoff goal, and Jake Guentzel also found the net for the Lightning. The team now faces elimination in the opening round for the fourth consecutive season if they suffer another defeat.
Despite a streak of 460 sold-out games, Tampa Bay has been defeated in 10 of its previous 12 home playoff matchups.
Texier received an extended pass from Lane Hutson, advanced into the left face-off circle, and unleashed a shot that deflected off Andrei Vasilevskiy’s catching mitt before entering the net, giving them a 3-2 advantage at the start of the third period.
While supporters of the Montreal Canadiens observe Game 5 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, certain opposing players are frequently mentioned as those they find particularly disagreeable.
The Canadiens took an early lead three minutes into the match as Gallagher flicked in a rebound subsequent to Vasilevskiy pushing away Alex Newhook’s backhand shot. Gallagher had been a healthy scratch for the initial four games, and the veteran of 14 seasons dedicated time to offering guidance to the newer players.
Merely moments after James rocketed a slapshot beyond Dobes during a two-on-one rush, the Canadiens reclaimed their advantage. Dach glided along the left flank, maneuvered past a defender, momentarily lost control of the puck, then nudged it from his skate to his stick directly in front of the goal, and subsequently scored.
Dach closed his Instagram profile subsequent to encountering online backlash, as his defensive oversight was attributed to the decisive overtime goal in Game 2. He contributed a goal and an assist in Montreal’s subsequent 3-2 overtime victory.
Subsequent to the Habs’ 3-2 overtime defeat in Game 2 facing Tampa Bay on April 21, certain supporters voiced disapproval of Kirby Dach on social media due to several crucial errors that contributed to the Lightning’s winning score. The remarks became so severe that Dach and his spouse elected to deactivate their Instagram profiles.
Guentzel propelled a slapshot between Dobes’ pads during yet another two-on-one rush, evening the score at 2 late in the second period. Guentzel boasts the premier playoff goal-to-game ratio among U.S.-born athletes in NHL history, having accumulated 43 goals across 79 matches.
The Lightning successfully nullified a four-minute penalty following Ryan McDonagh’s double minor infraction for high-sticking during the opening period. The Canadiens only registered a single shot on goal during their power play opportunity.
Montreal generated superior scoring opportunities during two of Tampa Bay’s power plays in the second frame. Vasilevskiy thwarted Jake Evans’ short-handed breakaway attempt on one such occasion.
