Evans scores again as Canadiens down Lightning 5-2

Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mary Holt)

Jake Evans scored for the career-high fifth consecutive game, and the surging Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 on Sunday night.

Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, Brendan Gallagher and Alex Newhook also scored to help the Canadiens win for the fifth time in six games.

Sam Montembeault made 21 saves.

Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel scored for Tampa Bay.

Jonas Johansson stopped 31 shots.

Newhook opened the scoring on a one-timer midway through the first period.

Hagel tied it 37 seconds into the second period, but Dvorak and Evans scored 5:54 apart for a two-goal Montreal lead they would not relinquish.

Takeaways

Canadiens: Montreal has scored four or more goals in six consecutive games.

The Canadiens snapped a four-game losing streak to Tampa Bay.

Lightning: LW Jake Guentzel missed the game because of an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Tampa Bay fell to 0-7-1 when scoring fewer than three goals.

Key moment: After Hagel tied it seven seconds into the second period, the Canadiens' Lane Hutson took a hooking call 13 seconds later to give Tampa Bay a power play.

But Montreal’s penalty kill held the Lightning without a shot during the man advantage.

Key stat: Evans' five-game goal streak is tied for the longest active run in the NHL.

Up next: Montreal is in Vegas on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay is in San Jose on Thursday night.