Breaking News: Steven Stamkos and Nicholas Paul combined for four goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning secured a 7-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday evening…

In a high-scoring affair, NHL points leader Nikita Kucherov notched his 34th goal of the season and contributed two assists, propelling the Lightning (43-26-7) to their 10th win and reinforcing their position in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Adding to the scoreline, Michael Eyssimont and Brandon Nagel found the back of the net for Tampa Bay.

On the opposing side, Joel Armia netted two goals for the Canadiens (29-34-12), while Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufied each scored one during a third-period comeback attempt that ultimately fell short.

Matt Tomkins, making only his fourth NHL start and his first since November 7, showcased a solid performance in goal for the Lightning, making 27 saves to secure the win. Cayden Primeau made 30 saves for the Canadiens but couldn’t prevent the loss.

The Canadiens faced adversity as defenseman Kaiden Guhle exited the game early in the first period due to an upper-body injury sustained from a check by Kucherov. Additionally, Hagel left the game late in the third period after colliding with teammate Stamkos.

Stamkos broke the deadlock with his first goal of the night at 7:58 of the second period, followed swiftly by Paul’s second goal, further extending the Lightning’s lead.

Looking ahead, the Lightning will conclude their three-game road trip with a Saturday afternoon clash against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Meanwhile, Montreal will host the archrival Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was originally published on April 4, 2024.