(Sports Network) - The last time the Montreal Canadiens faced the Tampa Bay
Lightning they blew a three-goal lead before finally winning in a shootout.
The first-place Canadiens will try to go 2-0 against the Lightning on
Saturday, as the clubs meet at Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Montreal led 3-0 heading into the third period when it visited Tampa on Feb.
12, but the Bolts scored three times in the final six minutes of regulation to
send the game to OT. David Desharnais scored the eventual game-winner in the
shootout.
Last month's win over the Lightning was just Montreal's second in six trips to
Tampa. The Canadiens have won three of four overall in this series.
Montreal is coming off a win, posting Thursday's 4-2 decision at Carolina to
improve to 2-1-0 on a five-game road trip. The Canadiens are 7-2-2 on the road
this season overall.
Lars Eller tallied the go-ahead goal in the third period and P.K. Subban added
insurance in the Canadiens' 4-2 win over the Hurricanes.
Brandon Prust and Josh Gorges each netted a goal in the opening frame for
Northeast-leading Montreal, which avoided consecutive losses for the first
time in a month.
Carey Price made 42 saves, including one on a penalty shot in the second
period.
"I thought we came out strong in the first period and were a little flat in
the second, but the most important thing is that we bounced back in the third
period," Price said.
The Habs rebounded nicely after having an 11-point streak (8-0-3) snapped
Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Montreal enters Saturday with a one-
point edge over Boston for the Northeast Division lead. The Bruins, who have
played three less games than the Canadiens, face visiting Philadelphia on
Saturday afternoon.
The Canadiens will not have defenseman Yannick Weber in Saturday's game. Weber
was sent back to Montreal for further tests after suffering a knee injury on
Thursday.
The Lightning, meanwhile, lost for the sixth time in seven games in Thursday's
2-1 regulation loss against visiting Winnipeg. Bryan Little scored the
deciding goal with 4:08 left to play, enabling the Jets to avenge an earlier
lopsided loss to Tampa Bay. The Lightning destroyed Winnipeg 8-3 in a home
game back on Feb. 1.
Steven Stamkos came through with his league-leading 18th tally of the season
for the Lightning's lone score. Anders Lindback finished with 26 saves in the
loss.
"It's hard to take because the results are not coming with the effort,"
Lightning head coach Guy Boucher said. "Our players did everything they could
tonight."
Tampa Bay fell to 6-5-1 as the host this season, but the club did get forward
Ryan Malone back on the ice after he missed the previous 13 games with a
lower-body injury. Malone had an assist while logging over 19 minutes of ice
time.
The Sports Network