Canadiens News & Rumours: Slafkovsky Dominates in Game 1, Tensions Boil Over in Game 2 & More – The Hockey Writers –

The Montreal Canadiens‘ playoff run is well underway, and the energy around the team hasn’t felt like this in a while. After a strong regular season, the Canadiens are now locked into a hard-fought first-round matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. That has not disappointed through the first two games.

Here are the latest news and rumours surrounding the Canadiens.

Slafkovsky Makes His Mark on Game 1

The biggest story from the opening game of the series was Juraj Slafkovsky. He took over the game in Tampa Bay and finished with a hat trick, leading the Canadiens to a 4-3 win. It was the first hat trick by a Canadien since Rene Bourque in 2014, as well as the first player in franchise history to record three power-play goals in one game.

While his first two goals were impactful, none were bigger than the third. The hat-trick goal was the game winner, with Game 1 going to overtime. He truly made his mark and showed that he doesn’t just show up in big games on the international stage but also in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has been someone who has been under the microscope since being drafted first in the 2023 NHL Draft. However, now he has proven that he is the player the Canadiens drafted him to be, and it has the fan base very excited.

Heading Home, Series Split 1 a Piece

The Canadiens took Game 1, as mentioned above, but Game 2 went to the Lightning. Although it was another hard-fought battle that also went to overtime, it was J.J. Moser who beat Jakub Dobes to tie the series at a game apiece. Now, the series shifts back to Montreal, which will be electric at the Bell Centre with how physical this series has become.

Game 2 was a war compared to Game 1. The Lightning dressed Scott Sabourin, who is known to be a tough customer, and he was all over Josh Anderson all game, and after a hit that Anderson wasn’t expecting, he left the game. Of course, this is directly related to Anderson’s hit on Charle-Edouard D’Astous in the series opener, who left the game and remained out last night. Outside of that mini-feud, things were very chippy after whistles, behind the play, and in front of the goalie. It didn’t matter. They were finishing checks and throwing punches at each other. It eventually boiled over, and Slafkovsky and Brandon Hagel dropped the gloves in the second period.

If the tension carries over to Game 3, it’s going to be a must-watch, especially with it being at the Bell Centre, with one of the best atmospheres in the entire NHL.

What’s Next for the Canadiens?

The Canadiens will now head back home and prepare for a very important Game 3 of this series on Friday, April 24. It’ll be a much-anticipated game for a fan base that knows their team could have easily been up 2-0. With both games going to overtime, it shows just how close these teams are and how tight things have been. It also shows how good the goaltending has been. Dobes has been lights out for a young goalie taking over the starting role in a pressure-cooker market like Montreal. He has shown just how good he is and how bright the future is for the Canadiens with both him and Jacob Fowler.

While they turn their attention to Game 3 and the preparation, this is also a chance for the players to catch their breath a bit. The playoffs are incredibly taxing on the body, especially for players who play a heavy, physical style like the aforementioned Anderson. So, it’ll be a good chance for them to rest and receive some treatment for anything that is nagging them before they get back to action on Friday night.