2 Positives & 2 Negatives from Canadiens 3-2 Loss to the Lightning

The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning are all square at one game apiece after Tampa squeezed out a 3–2 overtime win. That’s playoff hockey for you—tight, tense, and decided by the smallest details.

There was a lot to like from Montreal early. Jakub Dobeš was solid again, the team had some jump, and for stretches, they actually dictated the pace. But as it often goes in the playoffs, a couple of small breakdowns and one or two lost moments ended up being the difference.

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Two Positives and Two Negatives for the Canadiens

To keep this simple, here are two positives, two negatives, and thoughts about what the Canadiens need to do heading home.

Positive 1: Lane Hutson Gives the Power Play Some Life

Lane Hutson hammered home a beauty on the power play, and it wasn’t just a nice goal. It was a bit of a blueprint. Get pucks to the net. Create chaos, and good things will happen.

That one-timer worked because of traffic and movement, and Tampa couldn’t get set. For a Canadiens team that has struggled at times with the man advantage, this was encouraging. It looked dangerous. More importantly, it looked repeatable.

If I’m Montreal, I’m going right back to that well in Game 3.

Positive 2: The Canadiens Depth Players Brought Some Bite

One of the less obvious wins in this game was the work from the Canadiens depth lines. They didn’t dominate the scoresheet, but they did something just as important. They tilted the ice for stretches.

There was a real “fourth-line energy” feel at times. Pucks were getting chipped in, battles were being won, and shifts were being extended. That matters, especially in a series like this where you don’t want your top guys carrying the entire load. They had the Lightning responding, rather than dictating.

When your depth is engaged, it changes everything. It gives your bench life, and it keeps the pressure coming in waves.

Negative 1: The Canadiens Had a Couple of Messy Moments in Their Own End

Now the flip side. Nikita Kucherov doesn’t need much, and Montreal gave him just enough. That wraparound goal came out of a scramble and a breakdown that never really got cleaned up. That’s the kind of thing that will burn you every time in the playoffs.

It wasn’t a systemic collapse. It was just a couple of loose plays. And, it started with a failed clear, then bodies weren’t tied up, and the puck just hung around too long. But that’s all it takes against elite players. Clean exits and protecting the slot have to be sharper. No debate there.

Negative 2: Faceoffs and Special Teams Hurt Them

This one’s simple and a little painful. The Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli had a strong night in the faceoff circle, and that matters more than people think—especially late in the game. The overtime winner started with a lost draw. That was the game right there.

Add in the special-teams margin, and it becomes a bit of a problem. You don’t have to dominate special teams to win playoff games, but you simply can’t lose that battle. Montreal was just a step behind when it mattered most.

What Do the Canadiens Need to Change to Win at Home?

Now the series shifts to Montreal’s Bell Centre, and that’s where things get interesting. The formula isn’t complicated. Go right back to what worked. Keep running those Hutson looks on the power play. Keep throwing pucks at the net. Finally, keep leaning on the depth guys who are bringing energy and winning their shifts.

But clean up the little things. Win more defensive-zone faceoffs. Get the puck out cleanly. Tie up sticks in front. Don’t give second chances to players who live off them.

And maybe most important of all—make life miserable for Andrei Vasilevskiy. Traffic, rebounds, bodies in the blue paint. Nothing fancy, just playoff hockey.

Related: J.J. Moser’s Overtime Winner Gets Tampa Bay Back Into Series