How the Canadiens Flipped the Script on the Lightning in Game 1 – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

When the Montreal Canadiens walked into Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday evening, most people figured it would be a lesson in experience. A reminder of how hard playoff hockey really is. Instead, it turned into something else. It turned into the Juraj Slafkovsky show.

In the video below, Nick Kypreos joins Sportsnet Central to break down the Canadiens’ 4-3 overtime win over the Lightning in Game 1, discussing Slafkovsky’s dominant hat-trick performance and more.

Slafkovsky Fires Home Three Goals to Help the Canadiens Win Game 1

Slafkovsky’s impact couldn’t have been louder. It felt like every time Montreal got the man advantage, something dangerous was happening. This was wire-to-wire dominance. From the opening shift right through overtime, he was the most noticeable player on the ice from either team, and that includes Nikita Kucherov.

That’s not something you say lightly. But, in Kypreos’ eyes, what stood out wasn’t just the hat trick — although that got the headlines. It was how he carried himself when the game wasn’t going Montreal’s way.

Early in the second period, the Canadiens could not generate anything. Shots were hard to come by, momentum was tilted the wrong way, and yet Slafkovsky kept pushing. He was physical, engaged, and completely unfazed, even taking — and giving — big hits, including a heavy one from Ryan McDonagh.

And when your so-called top guys like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have quieter nights, you need someone to step into that space. Slafkovsky didn’t just step in — he owned it.

The Other Canadiens Star Was in the Crease

Now, as Kypreos noted, the other story here — and it matters just as much — was in goal. Jakub Dobes was sharp and aggressive in Game 1, stopping 20 shots and outplaying Andrei Vasilevskiy. Even when the Lightning were pressing at five-on-five, he held firm.

He gave up two power-play goals but picked up his second career playoff win. It’s clearly Dobes’ net, and he’ll need to be just as steady in Game 2. He made a key save on Erik Cernak that set the tone, but more than that, it was how confident and aggressive he looked. He challenged shooters instead of sitting back.

On the other end, Vasilevskiy — one of the best in the world — looked human. On the overtime winner, he lost his angle on a shot he normally swallows up. That’s the kind of moment that swings playoff games. Montreal had the better goaltending.

Canadiens Show Poise as Game Opens Up

What stood out to Kypreos wasn’t just the result — it was how the Canadiens managed the game as it evolved. Early on, they played it tight and structured, almost conservatively. It was about control, not chances — the kind of approach where a 1-0 win would’ve been just fine.

But as the game opened up, Montreal didn’t lose itself. Even after giving up the lead and having to chase, they stayed composed. No panic, no forcing plays — just patience and trust in their game. For a young team, that level of poise really stood out.

Dobes Delivers While Slafkovsky Drives the Win

Kypreos also made it clear this wasn’t a perfect game. The penalties were an issue — some careless — and against the Lightning, that usually burns you. But the difference came from the key players. And chief among them was Slafkovsky.

Kypreos didn’t hesitate to call him the best player on the ice. From start to finish, he drove the Canadiens’ attack, both with his physical presence and offensive impact. And he ultimately delivered when it mattered most. Between Slafkovsky’s dominance, Dobes’ steady play in goal, and timely contributions on special teams, Montreal found a way to overcome its mistakes.

Kypreos summed it up simply: both teams will see areas they could have won this game, but the Canadiens are the ones up 1-0. And for Tampa Bay, the uncomfortable truth is that the best player on the ice in Game 1 wasn’t theirs — it was Montreal’s.