The Montreal Canadiens played their first game after the Christmas break, and it was definitely a wild one.
They dropped a 5 -4 shootout decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday afternoon, in a game that was full of goals, fights, and highly-contested battles.
Arber Xhekaj DROPS Scott Sabourin, then immediately calls for the trainer 😳👏 pic.twitter.com/RrQX6aMtga
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 28, 2025
Inauspicious Start
The Canadiens were looking to jump onto a fatigued Lighting squad, who were playing the second half of back-to-back games, after beating their cross-state rival Florida Panthers 4-2 in a fight-filled affair.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis elected to go with the hot hand of Jacob Fowler to guard the net, after the rookie turned aside 26 of 28 shots in the team’s last matchup versus Boston.
It marked the first time in NHL history a Florida-born goaltender faced off against a Florida-based team, and all things considered, he didn’t look out of place, despite a couple of bad bounces, finishing the night with 18 saves on 22 shots.
After a scoreless first which saw Montreal outshoot and out-chance the home team, Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson stopped all 10 shots he faced, which included three powerplays.
Tampa Bay set a season-high nine penalty kills last night versus Florida, and also set a franchise record for 26 minor penalties. Tampa jumped out of the gate in the second period. Just over two minutes into the frame, Montreal rookie Ivan Demidov had a great chance from the slot, but his twig snapped, the second time in the game.
Lightning forward Gage Goncalves fed Habs nemesis Nikita Kucherov to spring loose on a breakaway – and he made no mistake, scoring blocker side on Fowler, for his 16th goal of the season, and first of two on the night.
By the end of the second period the Montreal Canadiens found themselves in an 0-3 hole, despite leading 18-16 in shots.
Cue The Almost Comeback
The Habs entered the final frame trailing, and thus far this season, had a 3-9-3 record when down after two. They knew they had to get on the board and fast, if they were to mount any kind of comeback.
Just over a minute in they got the ball rolling. 66 seconds in, Demidov finally got a nice rebound for his 10th of the season, and third in as many games.
Demidov complète le jeu!
No look feed, and Demi buries it#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/cYoXCyJHsj
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 29, 2025
However, 24 seconds later, Tampa regained their three-goal advantage on a Pontus Holmberg goal deflected past the rookie Fowler.
Three goals down the Habs didn’t give up though, not stopping their chances, firing all pucks at Johansson, and trying to rattle him.
9:16 into the third Slafkovsky entered in from the slot, and wired his 12th of the campaign, giving him a goal and a helper in the period, and extending his three-game point streak (two goals, three assists coming in).
Then three minutes later Montreal blueliner Noah Dobson accepted a pass from captain Nick Suzuki and zipped a shot passed a screened Tampa goalie.
Dobson fait dire que ce n’est pas fini
Noah doubt about it#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/KREBPjYmiI
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 29, 2025
Home Stretch
The Montreal Canadiens had sustained pressure the entire rest of the way, up until the final faceoff in regulation.
With them still down by a goal, and Fowler on the bench, Phillip Danault won the faceoff, and after a bit of shuffling Slafkovsky scored the equalizer with just 3.8 seconds left on the clock, sending the team and their bench into a frenzy.
4-4!!!
JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY, TIE GAME#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Acsy5Bs21s
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 29, 2025
After overtime solved nothing despite both teams exchanging a few great opportunities, the game was to be decided via the shootout. Johansson had gone 0-6 career in shootouts, and it was the first-ever for the 21-year-old Fowler. Goncalves and Brayden Point scored for Tampa, and Demidov and Cole Caufield couldn’t, and despite a great comeback with four third period goals, Montreal dropped the contest 5-4.
The Canadiens are off Monday, but are back in action Tuesday night versus the Florida Panthers. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm ET.
