Canadiens at Lightning
The Montreal Canadiens have gone more than a year since posting a victory over Tampa Bay and need to find a way to reverse that trend as they prepare to visit the Lightning for Wednesday's Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Tampa Bay won all five regular-season matchups and came out of Montreal with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven matchup following a 6-2 drubbing in Game 2.
"It's still a race to four (wins), and we're only halfway there," cautioned Lightning coach Jon Cooper. "We've beat Montreal seven straight times and that's great, but we need two more wins. What's in the past is in the past." The Canadiens swept the series against Tampa Bay in last year's playoffs but have been outscored 29-11 in the seven meetings this season. Vezina Trophy finalist Carey Price, who led the league in wins (44), goals-against average (1.96) and save percentage (.933), has been in net for all seven defeats. "We have elite goaltending, and I think if we just keep sticking to it, we know we can beat this team," Montreal defenseman Tom Gilbert said.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, USA, CBC, TVA
ABOUT THE CANADIENS: Montreal has been limited to two goals or fewer in six consecutive playoff games, and a glaring weakness has been its lack of production on the power play - which is 0-for-6 in the series and 1-for-26 overall in the postseason. The poor special-teams play has extended to the penalty kill, as the club allowed Tampa Bay to convert 4-of-8 opportunities with the extra skater in the Game 2 rout. "We feel 5-on-5, we've done a lot of good things," forward Torrey Mitchell said. "There are so many momentum switches in a game, so if we feel like we're carrying the play, we can't be taking stupid penalties."
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING: Getting its power play cranked up was a pivotal factor in Game 2, but Tampa Bay also was buoyed by the play of captain Steven Stamkos, who scored his first goal of the postseason to go along with a pair of assists. Stamkos, second in the league with 43 goals during the regular season, had been blanked in 11 straight playoff contests before delivering the tiebreaking tally and setting up another score several minutes later. "This game is about confidence," Stamkos said. "You score and all of a sudden, nothing changes, but your legs feel lighter, you feel better with the puck. Things are starting to bounce your way, that's just the way the game goes."
OVERTIME
1. Tampa Bay did lose twice at home in its seven-game win over Detroit in the first round.
2. Canadiens C David Desharnais (flu), who missed Game 2, flew to Tampa Bay on Tuesday and will join the team for Wednesday's morning skate.
3. Lightning C Cedric Paquette, who exited Sunday's contest, was at practice Tuesday and will be a game-time decision.