Juraj Slafkovsky silences Darren Raddysh and lifts Canadiens late
Photo credit: Keito Newman-Imagn Images
Juraj Slafkovsky struck late after Darren Raddysh and Martin St-Louis watched tensions spike in a tight finish between the Canadiens and Lightning.
Raddysh thought he had the moment.
He tied the game at 18:09 of the third, jumping into the play and snapping one past the crease traffic to make it 1-1.
Then came the extra edge.
Raddysh turned toward the glass and jawed at Canadiens fans, feeding off the road energy after silencing the building.
That lasted less than a minute.
Slafkovsky jumped right back over the boards and flipped the script at 18:56, restoring the lead and sending the Bell Centre into a different kind of roar.
Montreal didn't just answer. They shut it down.
Juraj Slafkovsky answers Darren Raddysh late and saves Canadiens
This wasn't just a goal-for-goal exchange. It felt like a preview.
The Canadiens now sit at 104 points, with the Lightning right behind at 102. The gap is thin, and a first-round collision is right there.
Slafkovsky's finish wasn't flashy. It was inside positioning, quick release, and timing off a Nick Suzuki feed.
That line drove the response.
Suzuki picked up his second assist of the night, continuing to control pace in key moments, especially late in games.
On the other side, Raddysh's goal came from activation off the blue line, something Tampa Bay leans on when their forwards get boxed out.
But the pushback exposed something.
Montreal didn't sag after giving one up late. They attacked again. That's a shift in identity compared to earlier stretches this season.
Cole Caufield had already opened the scoring with his 50th goal, setting the tone for the top six before things tightened.
And when things got emotional, the Canadiens didn't drift.
They responded on the next shift.
That matters heading into a potential series.
Because if these teams meet, it won't just be about skill. It's going to be about composure after moments like Raddysh's celebration.
The Canadiens just showed they can answer instantly.
And they made sure the last word stayed on the ice, not at the glass.
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| POLL | ||
AVRIL 9|62 ANSWERS Juraj Slafkovsky silences Darren Raddysh and lifts Canadiens late Did Darren Raddysh wake up the Canadiens with his celebration ? | ||
| Yes | 47 | 75.8 % |
| No | 15 | 24.2 % |
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