Canadiens 2, Lightning 1 (SO)
Lars Eller scored the only goal of the shootout in the first round as visiting Montreal edged Tampa Bay.
Tomas Plekanec netted his 13th goal in the second period for Montreal, which lost to the Lightning in a shootout by the same score at home on Nov. 12. Eller deked back to his forehand for the shootout winner and Carey Price stopped all three attempts by Tampa Bay after turning aside 23 shots - including 14 in the third period - to record his 18th win.
Martin St. Louis registered his 17th goal of the season for the Lightning, who extended their point streak to six games (5-0-1). Ben Bishop made 20 saves for Tampa Bay, gaining a point for the club in his eighth straight game (6-0-2).
After a scoreless first period, Plekanec accepted a pass from captain Brian Gionta and held off a defender before flipping a backhand shot by Bishop 5:15 into the second. The Lightning managed only nine shots over the first 40 minutes but tied it when St. Louis beat Price from the edge of the right faceoff circle at 11:43.
Price made a big stop on a wide-open St. Louis just short of six minutes into the third and was sharp to help kill off an aggressive Tampa Bay power play soon after. Bishop denied Max Pacioretty from the slot late in regulation as the Lightning outshot Montreal 15-6 in the third and overtime combined.
GAME NOTEBOOK: St. Louis extended his goal-scoring streak to four games and has registered at least a point in six straight … Price, 26, played in his 341st game and went over 20,000 minutes for his career. … Tampa Bay veteran Ds Sami Salo and Eric Brewer were both held out of the lineup with upper-body injuries while D Dmitry Korobov played in his second NHL game.