This one will hurt for a while. The Tampa Bay Lightning blew a 3-1 lead after two periods and watched the Montreal Canadiens score three times in the 3rd as they come back to stun the Bolts 4-3 from a sold out Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Lightning had a sloppy start to the game with a few turnovers but Cedric Desjardins was able to make 3 saves in the game’s opening minutes. Midway through the first period, Lightning forward B.J. Crombeen was whistled for hooking but the Bolts were able to kill the Montreal power play. The first period ended scoreless with Tampa Bay outshooting Montreal 10-7.
After a scoreless first, the scoring picked up in the second period. The Bolts finally broke through early in the second period. Martin St. Louis set up Steven Stamkos with a gorgeous pass as Stammer beat Carey Price to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead with 14:30 left in the second. That was Stamkos’ 19th goal of the season, which leads the NHL. About two minutes later, Brian Lee turns the puck over and Tomas Plekanec makes the Lightning pay with a goal to tie the game at 1-1. But the Bolts came back just 37-seconds later on a Sami Salo goal to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. Lightning would add to that lead after Montreal was whistled for tripping Alex Killorn. Bolts cashed in with a power play goal by Ryan Malone to make it 3-1 Tampa Bay with 7:40 left in the 2nd period. Stamkos and St. Louis picked up the assists as the puck deflected off Malone and past Price.
Early in the 3rd period, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman was called for holding. The Habs went on the power play and scored after a scrum in front of the net. Brian Gionta jammed the puck in to pull Montreal within a goal at 3-2. The Canadiens would tie it a short time later on a slapper by Alexi Emelin that beats Desjardins to make it 3-3 with over 12 minutes left. Then, Brendan Gallagher scored to give Montreal a 4-3 lead with under 8 minutes left. That completed a stunning comeback. The Bolts pulled Desjardins in the final minute for the extra skater but they didn’t come close to threatening Price. Dreadful loss indeed.
