Juraj Slafkovsky's hat trick delivers overtime victory for Canadiens in playoff opener

Juraj Slafkovsky etched his name into NHL playoff lore on April 19, 2026, scoring three power-play goals, including the overtime winner just 1:22 in, to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their first-round series.[1][2] The 22-year-old No. 1 overall pick from 2022 fired a slap shot from the left circle past Andrei Vasilevskiy, capping a debut playoff performance for the ages at Amalie Arena.

This victory stunned the heavily favored Lightning, who entered as series favorites despite recent first-round exits. Slafkovsky became the youngest player in NHL history to record a hat trick in a postseason opener, surpassing Wayne Gretzky, who achieved the feat at age 22 in 1983.[3]

Slafkovsky’s breakout playoff debut

Slafkovsky’s night was a masterclass in power-play finishing. His first goal came in the third period from the high slot, sliding under Vasilevskiy’s pad for a short-lived 3-2 lead. Moments earlier, in the second period’s final minute, he one-timed a seam pass from Ivan Demidov to tie it at 2-2.

The overtime heroics sealed the trifecta. “I kind of saw some open space there,” Slafkovsky said post-game. “I decided to shoot it, and thankfully, it went in. So, we’re all happy. But, yeah, we still have to focus. We have a game in two days.”[4]

According to ESPN Research, he is the first player ever with three power-play goals in a postseason game, one an overtime winner. This marks him as the 22nd different Canadien to notch a playoff hat trick.

Josh Anderson praised the power forward’s growth. “It’s been unbelievable, honestly,” Anderson said. “This year, he obviously took a huge stride. He’s a power forward, a big guy, and it’s just hard to stop him.”[5]

His development since drafting has been meteoric. After a playoff debut last season, Slafkovsky arrived in 2026 with confidence, turning heads in this high-stakes matchup.

For more on his player profile, check Juraj Slafkovsky’s ESPN page.

Breaking down the game’s key moments

The game started with Montreal’s fourth line striking first. Anderson flipped a top-shelf shot into an open net for a 1-0 lead in the opening period.

Tampa responded in the second. Darren Raddysh tied it with a powerful slap shot, and Brandon Hagel followed 29 seconds later, backhanding a loose puck for a 2-1 edge.

A potential Anderson goal midway through the second was overturned on review—his stick was above the crossbar on Mike Matheson’s slap shot. Slafkovsky then equalized late.

• 1-0 MTL: Josh Anderson (1st period, fourth line).
• 1-1 TBL: Darren Raddysh (2nd period, slap shot).
• 1-2 TBL: Brandon Hagel (29 seconds later, backhand).
• 2-2 MTL: Slafkovsky PP (late 2nd, from Demidov).
• 3-2 MTL: Slafkovsky (3rd, high slot).
• 3-3 TBL: Hagel PP tip from Jake Guentzel (8:58 3rd).
• 4-3 MTL: Slafkovsky OT PP (1:22, slap shot).

Rookie goalie Jakub Dobes stood tall with 20 saves in the NHL’s first overtime game of the postseason.[6]

Martin St. Louis called a timeout just before the winner. Captain Nick Suzuki noted, “Marty just wanted to talk it over… We just wanted to try to end the game.”

Tampa Bay’s fightback and home woes

The Lightning showed resilience, with Hagel scoring twice—including a third-period power-play tip off Guentzel’s pass to force OT. Raddysh’s blast leveled it early.

Tampa entered favored, having fallen short of a three-peat in 2022 but exiting first rounds the last three years. Vasilevskiy faced constant pressure.

Center Dominic James returned from injury, playing 7:18 on the fourth line after missing 24 regular-season games. His activation added depth, but it wasn’t enough.

Game 2 is Tuesday at Benchmark International Arena, where Tampa has lost eight of nine recent home playoff games.[4]

The Canadiens seek their first series win since losing the 2021 Cup Final to these Lightning. Their last Cup was 1993, the record 24th.

Implications for the series and beyond

Montreal’s upset win shifts momentum. St. Louis, a Lightning legend, outcoached his former club. Dobes’ poise and the power play’s efficiency (3/ opportunities) were pivotal.

Tampa must regroup at home, addressing defensive lapses. Hagel’s response kept them alive, but Slafkovsky’s dominance exposed vulnerabilities.

This series tests both: Tampa’s experience versus Montreal’s youth and hunger. For highlights, see NHL.com video of Slafkovsky’s hat trick.[7]

Slafkovsky’s emergence signals a bright future for the Habs rebuild.

The Canadiens’ resilience shines through, but Tampa’s pedigree makes prediction tough. Game 2 will clarify if this was a fluke or the start of an upset. Fans await more drama from this clash of eras.