Slafkovsky’s OT goal caps hat trick, lifts Canadiens over Lightning 4-3: Takeaways

Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images Juraj Slakovsky showed why Montreal picked him No. 1 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, completing his first playoff hat trick by scoring a power-play goal 1:22 into overtime to give the Canadiens a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena on Sunday in the opener of their Eastern Conference First Round series. Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel took a high-sticking penalty with 21 seconds remaining in regulation, and Slafkovsky made him pay with his third power-play goal of the game.

Lane Huston fed a pass to Slafkovsky as he went into the left circle, and the 22-year-old rifled the puck past goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy’s glove for the win. It was not a terrific night for Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Bolts. He allowed four goals on 19 shots and rarely looked like the goaltender who excelled when the Bolts won the Cup in 2020 and 2021.

Montreal rookie Jakub Dobes finished with 20 saves. JURAJ SLAFKOVSKÝ IS YOUR @ENERGIZER OVERTIME HERO AND THE @CANADIENSMTL TAKE GAME 1! 🔵⚪️🔴 #STANLEYCUP pic.

twitter. com/qKVfKoKFAd — NHL (@NHL) April 20, 2026 The Canadiens lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 set for Tuesday night in Tampa. Slafkovsky’s first power-play goal tied the game late in the second period, and his second gave the Canadiens a brief 3-2 lead in the third.