Canadiens force Game 7 against Lightning

The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning faced off in a tense Game 6 of their playoff series, with the Canadiens leading 3-2 at the start. The game showcased a hard-fought battle, featuring standout performances from both goaltenders.

Andrei Vasilevskiy was instrumental for the Lightning, stopping 30 shots and earning his first shutout of the playoffs, particularly shining in a crucial two-save sequence against Ivan Demidov in the second period.

The game remained scoreless through regulation, leading to overtime for the fourth time in the series. In this dramatic overtime, Gage Goncalves scored the winning goal for Tampa Bay, tapping in a rebound after Jakub Dobes made an initial save, securing a 1-0 victory for the Lightning.

This result forces a decisive Game 7, set to take place in Tampa. The Canadiens will be looking to capitalize on their momentum from the series thus far, while the Lightning aim to build off their clutch performance to stay alive in the playoffs.

According to Eyes On The Prize, the series has been characterized by narrow margins, with all six games decided by a single goal, highlighting the competitive nature of this matchup.