Slafkovsky Hat Trick Sinks Lightning 4-3 in Game 1 Sport By lines April 19, 2026 Montreal Canadiens defeated Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round. Juraj Slafkovsky scored all three Canadiens power-play goals. Slafkovsky sealed the win at 1:22 of overtime. Slafkovsky Rewrites the Canadiens Playoff Record Book Slafkovsky is the first Montreal player with a playoff hat trick since Rene Bourque in the 2014 Eastern Conference Final. Slafkovsky is the third-youngest Canadien to score a playoff hat trick. Only Bernie Geoffrion and Howie Morenz achieved the feat at a younger age. Slafkovsky is the first Canadien with three power-play goals in one postseason game. The NHL began tracking that stat in 1933-34. Montreal finished 3-for-5 on the power play in Game 1. Slafkovsky’s first goal came on a power play with 24 seconds left in the second period. Slafkovsky put Montreal ahead 3-2 with a second power-play goal in the third period. Brandon Hagel tied the game at 3-3 with a power-play tip-in off a Jake Guentzel pass 8:58 into the third. Tampa Bay is 0-7 in its past seven playoff overtime games. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET in Tampa. The series shifts to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. Related Sports Coverage NHL Playoffs Sunday: Four Game 1s Drop the Puck Wild Crush Stars 6-1 in Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 1 Hurricanes Host Senators in Game 1 at Lenovo Center Source: NHL.com Game 1 Recap.
