Evans scores in fifth straight recreation, Canadiens defeat Lightning – NHL.com

Montembeault stops 21 of 23 for Montreal, which has gained 5 of 6
Canadiens at Lightning | Recap
TAMPA — Jake Evans scored in his fifth straight recreation to assist the Montreal Canadiens earn a 5-2 win towards the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Area on Sunday.
Joel Armia had a purpose and an help, and Alexandre Carrier had two assists for the Canadiens (16-17-3), who beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 on Saturday and have gained 5 of six. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves.
“These are two robust buildings to return in and get wins, I am actually proud of everybody’s effort,” Montreal captain Nick Suzuki mentioned. “Each groups are on a back-to-back and the thoughts is the very first thing to go. I believed we performed a very sensible recreation, managed the puck effectively, managed the sport absolutely, so it is a large two factors for us.”
MTL@TBL: Evans blasts in a slick wrister to increase lead
Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov scored for the Lightning (20-12-2), who had gained two in a row, together with 6-2 towards the New York Rangers on Saturday. Jonas Johansson made 32 saves.
“We have had a fairly good stretch of video games, particularly within the month of December, and we have been taking part in in a fairly predictable, constant means for fairly a while,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper mentioned. “Sadly popping out of the break… we have simply taken a step again within the mentality of the way in which we play.”
Alex Newhook gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 12:07 of the primary interval with a one-timer from the hash marks off a cross by Mike Matheson.
Hagel scored 37 seconds into the second interval with a wrist shot from the excessive slot to make it 1-1.
“Giving up 80 photographs in two video games shouldn’t be going to work,” Hagel mentioned. “Good luck profitable hockey video games. We’ve to be slightly higher in all three areas of the zone. I do not suppose we had been that good within the D-zone and we may’ve been higher within the impartial zone.”
MTL@TBL: Hagel fires it in from the slot
Christian Dvorak gave Montreal a 2-1 lead at 12:34 when he obtained a stick on a shot from Kaiden Guhle to redirect it previous Johansson.
Evans pushed Montreal’s result in 3-1 at 18:28, ending off a 2-on-1 rush with a shot that beat Johansson to the brief facet.
“Actually I feel it is us coming in waves proper now, I do not suppose it is one line, but it surely’s the dedication to everyone understanding that the group is extra essential than the person,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis mentioned. “And they’re sacrificing some motion on the ice for the actions that really assist our group. And if you happen to do this time and again, the people are benefitting from that as effectively.”
Kucherov minimize it to 3-2 at 18:54 when he tucked the puck in from shut vary after Montembeault failed to regulate Brayden Point’s shot.
Armia pushed the Canadiens result in 4-2 at 12:32 of the third. Emil Heineman beat Mitchell Chaffee to a unfastened puck within the impartial zone and skated in alone earlier than sliding the puck throughout to Armia for a one-timer.
MTL@TBL: Heineman, Armia group up for purpose
Brendan Gallagher added an empty-net purpose at 18:08 for the 5-2 closing.
“We’re making plenty of mature performs [in the third period],” Suzuki mentioned. “Protecting it easy, not making something too dangerous and taking benefit once we get these possibilities.”
Lightning ahead Jake Guentzel was a late scratch and is day-to-day with an upper-body damage.
“They performed effectively defensively they usually’re an excellent group, they confirmed in Florida what they’ll do,” Lightning captain Victor Hedman mentioned. “We simply should study from it and cease turning pucks over. We’ve some days right here to prepare for an enormous highway journey out west. Giving up 5 is unacceptable and now we have to do a greater job of serving to out our goaltenders.”
NOTES: Armia has factors in 5 of the previous six video games (three targets, three assists). … Hagel has 9 factors (4 targets, 5 assists) over the previous seven video games. … Kucherov has targets in three straight video games. … Montreal’s final win at Amalie Area was April 2, 2022, a 5-4 shootout win.

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