Lightning 7, Canadiens 1
Captain Steven Stamkos recorded his eighth career hat trick and defenseman Victor Hedman notched a career-high four points as Tampa Bay handed visiting Montreal its first loss.
Hedman scored his third goal in three games and added three assists to push his total to seven points on the season while Vladislav Namestnikov registered his first two NHL points with a tally and an assist. Ryan Callahan also recorded a goal and assist, Ondrej Palat tallied and Ben Bishop turned aside 16 shots for Tampa Bay (2-0-1).
Brendan Gallagher netted the lone goal for Montreal (3-1-0), which swept the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs last season. Carey Price allowed four goals on 23 shots over the first two periods while former Tampa Bay goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 15 saves in the third as the Canadiens were outshot 18-1 in the session.
Hedman scored on a backhander from the slot after a scramble 5:24 into the contest and Stamkos doubled the lead during a power play at 9:51, chipping home a shot from below the left faceoff circle. The Canadiens drew within a goal when Gallagher deflected defenseman Jarred Tinordi’s shot past Bishop on the glove side at 12:16.
The Lightning took control in the middle session as Hedman zipped a pass up the middle to Stamkos, who moved in to beat Price between the pads at 13:15. The two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner completed his hat trick 4:59 later with a low shot from the right circle through a screen while on the power play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Stamkos recorded a game-high 12 shots on goal and Tampa Bay RW Nikita Kucherov added two assists. … Montreal was 0-for-4 on the power play and is scoreless in 14 opportunities with the man advantage this season. … Lightning D Eric Brewer made his season debut after sitting out the first two contests as a healthy scratch and blocked two shots in 20:49 of ice time.