Canadiens at Lightning
THE STORY: One thing that has kept the Tampa Bay Lightning optimistic through a rough first few months is the prospect of a more favorable travel schedule in the middle of the season. The Lightning cruised to a 5-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for their ninth win out of 14 contests on home ice. All told, they will play only 14 of the next 39 on the road. Tampa Bay hopes to take advantage of another home game Thursday against the struggling Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning are 3-1-1 in their last five games, but could be without talented young defenseman Victor Hedman, who suffered an upper-body injury against the Flyers. The Canadiens are also a team trying to find their way. They snapped a five-game losing skid with a victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN-Habs, SunSports.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (14-16-7): After losing his first four contests, Randy Cunneyworth earned his first NHL coaching win as Montreal registered a season-high six goals against Ottawa. Cunneyworth put struggling Michael Cammalleri on a line with rookie Louis Leblanc and David Desharnais and it sparked the offense. Cammalleri netted his first goal in 11 games and matched Leblanc with two points. G Carey Price stopped 33 of 35 shots after allowing 16 goals in four straight losses.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (15-17-3): Mathieu Garon appears to have taken over as the No. 1 goaltender, starting 12 of the last 15 games. Garon was brilliant against the Flyers with 31 saves and is expected to play his 300th career game against Montreal. With Hedman likely out, D Matt Gilroy could return to replace him after missing the last four games with a lower-body injury. Steven Stamkos has six goals in as many games after scoring twice Tuesday. Forward Steve Downie has picked it up with five points in six games.
OVERTIME:
1. The Lightning have secured points in 11 of the last 13 games (7-2-4) against Montreal.
2. Montreal was tied for second in penalty killing (88.9 percent) through Tuesday.
3. Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis has four points in three games since returning from facial and nasal fractures.