It was the final game of 2024 for the Tampa Bay Lightning as they faced off against the Montreal Canadiens. Both teams were on the second end of a back to back and both were coming off big wins. The Canadiens shut out the Florida Panthers 4-0 in Sunrise yesterday (a feat also accomplished by the Lightning a week ago). Meanwhile, the Bolts trampled a struggling New York Rangers team 6-2- thanks in no small part to goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Tonight, Jonas Johansson who shut out the Panthers last week would get the start for the Lightning. Jake Guentzel was a scratch with an upper body injury sustained during last night’s game.
Montreal Strikes First in Final Game of 2024
The Lightning looked sluggish to start this one. Maybe they were still tired since it hadn’t even been 24 hours since their previous game. They got some shots but did not sustain any dangerous pressure. And the defense looked sloppy.
The Canadiens took advantage and opened the scoring at 12:07 of the first period. Alex Newhook scored his seventh of the season fromMike Matheson and Patrik Laine to end the Johansson shutout streak.
At the other end, the Bolts continued to struggle to get anything going. Even on their power play, they struggled to set up. The period ended with the Lightning trailing 1-0 and 19 seconds remaining on their power play.
Hagel Strikes Back
The second period began and the Canadiens finished up the penalty kill without incident. But seconds later, Brandon Hagel took matters into his own hands. With a tremendous effort, he set himself up and wristed a shot past Sam Montembeault for an unassisted goal just 37 seconds into the middle frame.
“The middle of the ice opened up like a parting of the red sea!!!”
Hagel beats Montembeault to tie the game for Tampa Bay!#MTLvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9Tynk9H
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/vlbpga2woM— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) December 29, 2024
But the Canadiens continued to take the play to the Bolts after that with the Lightning often unable to clear the puck out of their own zone. Kaiden Guhle scored his third of the season at 12:34 to restore the Montreal lead.
Bolts Dig Themselves into a Hole
Already down a goal, the Lightning took a penalty. The Habs’ power play got to work but did not score. Seconds later, however, the Bolts gave up an odd man rush and Jake Evans beat Jonas Johansson to double the Montreal lead with just about a minute and a half remaining in the period.
But the Lightning seemed desperate not to go to the dressing room down by two. Twenty-six seconds later, the Bolts brought pressure to the Montreal net. Sam Montembeault appeared to have the puck, but it trickled out of his grasp right to where Nikita Kucherov was standing in wait. Kucherov tipped it in with 1:06 remaining in the second to pull his team back within a goal.
“Is it in? SCORREEEE!!!!”
Kuch plays to the whistle and pots one home!#MTLvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9Tynk9H
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/i9IWRkrBK4— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) December 29, 2024
Bolts Unable to Salvage Final Game of 2024
The Lightning really never got their game going in this one, as they continue to struggle against their fellow Atlantic division teams.
They did have a few chances to tie it up in the third period, but their overall game was sloppy. Montreal looked faster and more dangerous for most of this one. Joel Armia scored his seventh of the season after Emil Heineman dumped Nick Perbix to give the Habs a two on zero in front of Johansson.
Montreal would add an empty net goal to finish things up and come out of their Florida trip with four points.
The Lightning did enjoy a great month of December overall, capping the month with eight wins and three losses and will look to get back to their winning ways in 2025.
Three Stars
1- Joel Armia- 1 goal, 1 assist- 2 points
2- Alxandr Carrier- 2 assists
3- Brandon Hagel- great effort on assisted goal
Up Next
The Bolts are done for 2024 and will head out west to start 2025. First stop will be in San Jose on Thursday night (January 2nd). Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30pm Tampa time.
