Lightning snap losing streak with dominant 6-1 win over Canadiens

MONTREAL (AP) — Tampa Bay scored three times in the first period, Darren Raddysh scored a pair of third-period goals, and the Lightning coasted to a 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.

Brayden Point, Pontus Holmberg and Nikita Kucherov had goals in the first period to help the Lightning snap a four-game losing streak. Charle-Edouard D’Astous added a second-period goal for Tampa Bay.

Jonas Johansson made 26 saves in his fourth consecutive start in relief of Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday with an undisclosed injury.

Oliver Kapanen scored a power-play goal in the final minute of the second period for Montreal. Jakub Dobes allowed three goals on 14 shots before being replaced by Sam Montembeault to start the second period. Montembeault, making his first appearance since Dec. 2, surrendered three goals on 12 shots.

Cole Caufield's 11-game point streak came to an end in the loss.

Point’s first-period goal was the team’s first goal in 130:43, with the Lightning having been shut out by identical 2-0 scores in their previous two games.

Ivan Demidov’s failed pass attempt to Noah Dobson at the Canadiens’ blue line came just as Holmberg’s minor penalty for interference was expiring. Holmberg, fresh out of the penalty box, caught up with the loose puck, beating Dobes on a breakaway to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead.

Jake Guentzel collected his 600th career NHL point with an assist on Point’s goal. He became the 58th U.S.-born player in NHL history to achieve the feat.

Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman left the game in the first period with an injury.

Lightning: At New Jersey on Thursday night.

Canadiens: At Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson (31) makes a save on Montreal Canadiens' Josh Anderson (17) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) watches the puck go wide of the net as Tampa Bay Lightning' Jake Guentzel (59) and Charle-Edouard D'Astous (51) stand in front during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Lightning' Nikita Kucherov (86) skates with the puck while Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Montreal, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Tampa Bay Lightning' Charle-Edouard D'Astous (51) celebrates his goal with teammates Nikita Kucherov (86) and Darren Raddysh (43) during second period NHL hockey action against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)