Perry scores late in regulation and Palat wins it in OT as Lightning rally past Habs
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Ondrej Palat scored 36 seconds into overtime after Tampa Bay teammate Corey Perry tied it late in the third period, and the Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on Tuesday night in the first NHL game following an extended holiday break.
Perry got the equalizer with 19.7 seconds left in regulation and the Lightning net empty before Palat won it off a pass from Victor Hedman.
“Scoring a late goal to tie is always exciting,” said Brayden Point, who had two goals and assisted on Perry’s goal in his return from an injury. “Luckily enough we get the two points in overtime. There was a lot of emotion.”
It was the first NHL game since the Lightning won 4-3 at Vegas on Dec. 21 in the only game played that night. Dozens more were postponed over the past week-plus as the league turned a Christmas break scheduled to last three days into a six-day hiatus because of COVID-19 outbreaks and protocols.
Tampa Bay had six players and coach Jon Cooper unavailable in COVID-19 protocols. Montreal had nine players in protocols, including starting goalie Jake Allen.
Lightning assistant coach Derek Lalonde filled in for Cooper for the second consecutive game.
“Probably a little predictable the way things played out with where both teams’ lineups were and the fact you’re coming off a break,” Lalonde said. “I told the guys, again, huge credit for them to find a way like we’ve done all year long, hanging in there.”
Two more games were slated for later Tuesday night as NHL clubs began resuming their schedules.
David Savard ended a 49-game goal drought to put the Canadiens up 4-3 with 6:51 left in the third. Kale Clague had tied it at 3 for Montreal earlier in the third on his first NHL goal, coming in his 39th career game.
Point returned after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. The center, who was hurt Nov. 20 against New Jersey when his left shoulder crashed hard into the end boards, finished with six shots on goal.
The Lightning, who have a seven-game home winning streak and are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games overall, also got a goal from Ross Colton. With goalies Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliott both out, Maxime Lagace made 27 saves in his first NHL game since May 8, 2021, with Pittsburgh.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard got a goal in his NHL debut for the Canadiens, who have lost eight of nine (1-6-2).