The Montreal Canadiens are reeling from a sharp shift in Game 4 after losing control in the second half. A strong opening stretch unraveled late in the second period when a heavy, unpenalized hit on Juraj Slafkovský shifted the momentum, and the team struggled to recover as pressure mounted in the final frame.
Now, insider Jimmy Murphy is calling for accountability, urging the league to review the dangerous hit on the young forward. The play went uncalled on the ice, leaving Montreal to manage both Slafkovský’s absence and the mental impact of a swing they could not recover from.
Jimmy Murphy Calls for Discipline After Hit on Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovský
Slafkovský became the focus after a heavy open-ice hit from Maxwell Crozier forced him out of the game and raised questions around player safety. The collision came in the neutral zone, where Crozier stepped up as Slafkovský moved with his head down, and the contact sent him hard to the ice.
He was briefly shocked before getting on his feet. Then, he immediately left the ice and did not return, with no clear update on his condition beyond visible discomfort as he headed to the room.
— Bobby Boucher (@notpardonmymeme) April 27, 2026
The impact of the hit carried well beyond the final scoreline. NHL insider Murphy shared the clip and wrote, “Headshot. Deserves supplemental discipline,” pointing to contact with the head and the nature of the approach. The play has since become a central talking point.
The timing of the hit mattered as much as the contact itself. Montreal had built a 2-0 lead through Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield, controlling play with clean exits and good puck management.
That control began to slip after the incident, as Tampa Bay found a goal before the period ended. Jake Guentzel cut the deficit, and the game opened up heading into the third.
From a tactical point of view, the Canadiens struggled to reset their structure after losing a key presence. Slafkovský had driven play earlier in the series, including a Game 1 hat trick, and his absence erased significant pressure on Tampa’s defense. The Lightning pushed the pace in the third, attacking off transition and drawing penalties that created scoring chances.
Brandon Hagel capitalized on that shift, scoring twice in the third period, including a power-play goal that tied the game. His second came after sustained pressure, with the puck deflecting in following a long 5-on-3 kill by Montreal. Nikita Kucherov added two assists, while Andrei Vasilevskiy held firm late to secure the 3-2 win.
Montreal now heads into Game 5 with the series tied 2-2, needing to adjust both structurally and mentally. The franchise carries a long history, with 24 Stanley Cup titles and a reputation for responding under pressure. This situation tests that identity again, as they look to recover from a loss shaped by one defining moment.
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