Canadiens Rally Late to Defeat Kings 4-3

Slafkovsky and Suzuki lead Montreal's comeback in final minutes

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Montreal Canadiens rallied late in the third period, with Juraj Slafkovsky scoring the tying goal and then assisting on Nick Suzuki's game-winner, to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Saturday night. The Canadiens overcame a 3-2 deficit in the final minutes to salvage the final stop of their three-game California road trip.

Why it matters

The win was the Canadiens' NHL-leading 20th comeback victory of the season, showcasing their resilience and ability to battle back even when trailing late in games. For the struggling Kings, the loss extended their recent skid to 7 of 9 games under interim head coach D.J. Smith.

The details

Slafkovsky scored his second goal of the game to tie it 3-3 with just under 5 minutes remaining. He then set up Suzuki's game-winning tally 49 seconds later to complete the comeback. Jake Evans also scored for Montreal, while Jakub Dobes made 35 saves. For the Kings, Alex Laferriere, Scott Laughton, and Anze Kopitar scored, but they couldn't hold the lead late.

  • Slafkovsky scored the tying goal with 4:44 remaining in the third period.
  • Suzuki scored the game-winning goal with 4:33 left in the third period.

The players

Juraj Slafkovsky

A 21-year-old forward for the Montreal Canadiens who scored two goals, including the tying goal late in the third period, and assisted on the game-winner.

Nick Suzuki

The captain of the Montreal Canadiens who scored the game-winning goal with 4:33 remaining in the third period to complete the comeback.

Jakub Dobes

The goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens who made 35 saves to preserve the win.

Anze Kopitar

The 38-year-old captain of the Los Angeles Kings who scored the opening goal, ending a 21-game drought.

D.J. Smith

The interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings who has seen his team struggle, losing 7 of their last 9 games.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The Canadiens' late-game heroics demonstrated their ability to battle back and secure crucial wins, even on the road, as they continue to push for a playoff spot. For the Kings, the loss highlighted their recent struggles and the need to find more consistency under their interim coach.