Evans' goal late in the third period completes Canadiens' rally past Lightning in 3-2 victory

Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) celebrates with teammates Kirby Dach (77) and Patrik Laine (92) after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
MONTREAL — Jake Evans scored the winning goal with 2:15 remaining to rally the Montreal Canadiens past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Evans finished a feed from Joel Armia to break the tie with his 11th goal. Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook also scored, and Sam Montembeault stopped 33 shots to help Montreal win for the 13th time in 17 games.
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson extended his points streak to nine games. Patrik Laine added two assists.
Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel scored for Tampa Bay, which opened a four-game road trip with a 5-3 loss to Toronto on Monday. Kucherov pushed his points streak to 10 games. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves.
Kucherov slid the puck past Montembeault to open the scoring at 14:40 of the first period. Guentzel gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead 2:45 into the second.
But the Canadiens scored twice in under two minutes to get back in it. Slafkovsky beat Vasilevskiy from a sharp angle for a power-play goal at 5:32 before Laine set up Newhook for a one-timer in the slot at 7:21.
Takeaways
Canadiens: Comebacks are becoming a trend in Montreal’s hot stretch. The Canadiens trailed four times Sunday against the New York Rangers, but rallied each time and won 5-4 in overtime.

Montreal Canadiens' Kirby Dach (77) moves in on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
Lightning: Road woes continued for Tampa, which has lost seven of its last eight away from home.'
Key moment
Montembeault denied Michael Eyssimont twice on the doorstep to prevent Tampa from taking the lead with 3:43 left.
Key stat
Kucherov has points in 10 straight games for the 11th time in his career. The former Hart Trophy winner has five goals and 11 assists during his current streak.
Up next
Lightning: Continue a four-game road trip Friday in Chicago against the Blackhawks.

Tampa Bay Lightning's Brayden Point moves in on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
Canadiens: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.