Lightning 4, Canadiens 2
Tyler Johnson recorded his second straight two-goal performance as visiting Tampa Bay posted its sixth victory in seven games.
Brett Connolly and J.T. Brown also scored during a four-goal second period while Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat each recorded two assists for the Lightning, who finished at 3-1-0 on their road trip. Valtteri Filppula added an assist in his 600th NHL game and Ben Bishop made 20 saves in improving to 7-1-2 lifetime against the Canadiens.
Max Pacioretty scored a goal in his third straight contest and Dale Weise also tallied for Montreal, which saw its six-game winning streak come to an end. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar notched two assists and Carey Price turned aside 32 shots but gave up more than two goals for the first time since Dec. 6.
Weise redirected Tomas Plekanec’s shot from the right faceoff circle past Bishop 15:07 into the game, but Brown swept in a rebound at 3:17 of the second session to forge a tie. Johnson had Kucherov’s cross-ice pass hit off his stick before he chipped the puck past Price from the bottom of the right circle during a power play at 10:42 for a 2-1 lead.
Connolly whipped a shot glove side high after a back pass from Filppula at 18:16 and Johnson knocked in a rebound while on the man advantage 82 seconds later to make it 4-1. Pacioretty pulled the Canadiens within two by converting a breakaway 5:01 into the third, but the Lightning killed a late penalty to seal it.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tampa Bay D Radko Gudas underwent surgery on his right knee Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined at least four months. … Price has given up eight goals in five periods this season against Tampa Bay, which beat Montreal 7-1 on Oct. 13 in their only other meeting. … The Lightning scored multiple power-play goals in a game for the first time since Nov. 26 against the New York Rangers.