FEATURE GAME - Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Ligthning

Montreal Canadiens (4) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (3)

The Montreal Canadiens became the first team to progress to the second round of the 2013/14 Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 at home in the Bell Centre on Tuesday night. The Canadiens swept the Lightning, exacting revenge for the last time these two teams met in the playoffs back in 2003/04, when the Lightning swept the Canadiens. This series marks Montreal's first series win since 2010 when they were knocked out in the Conference Finals by the Philadelphia Flyers. The last time Montreal swept a team since was back in 1993, sweeping the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 in the Adams Division Finals en route to their most recent Stanley Cup. Montreal will face the winner of the Boston Bruins - Detroit Red Wings series next week in the second round.

Montreal didn't take long to open the scoring in Game 4, Dale Weise finding Daniel Briere all alone in front of the net early in the period. Briere calmly wristed the puck over Anders Lindback's glove and into the top right corner to put Montreal up 1-0 after just 2:23. Briere's first goal of the current playoffs brings his all-time points total to 111 points in 112 playoff games.

Brian Gionta celebrates with Lars Eller

The habs lit the lamp again in the opening period at 15:21, a turnover created by veteran captain Brian Gionta at the red line allowed Lars Eller to charge into the zone and rip a slap shot between Lindback's pad and glove to put the Canadiens up 2-0, the only Lightning defenseman back electing to block the passing lane to Rene Bourque on the two-on-one. The Canadiens outshot the Ligthning 15-6 in the opening frame.

Frustration got to the Lightning early in period two, after taking a 2 minute penalty for tripping on Alexei Emelin, Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos proceeded to punch Emelin in the face after the whistle but was not assessed a further penalty. Montreal failed to capitalise on the powerplay and Tampa got a lucky break with time winding down on the penalty as a miscommunication between Emelin and Carey Price caused a loose puck that Ondrej Palat picked up and wrapped around the net. Price just about made the save but in the ensuing scramble Montreal defenseman Josh Gorges pushed him and the puck over the line at 4:32 and after review the referees declared a good goal, Tampa's first short-handed goal of the series.

Gallagher scores his 3rd playoff goal

Tampa's hopes of a quick comeback didn't last long as Brendan Gallagher scored his 3rd goal of the post-season just a minute and ten seconds later, prompting Tampa coach Jon Cooper to pull Lindback in favour of Latvian Olympian Kristers Gudlevskis, who made some crucial saves to keep the score at 3-1 going into the second intermission. Many Olympic hockey fans will remember Gudlevskis's stellar performance in the Olympic quarter finals against Canada, where he saved 55 of 57 shots against in a 2-1 loss to the Gold medallists.


Gudlevskis continued to make crucial saves to start the third and the Lightning cut the lead to one at 03:29 as Victor Hedman banked a pucked off Price's back from behind the net, narrowly squeezing the puck over the line. Montreal took their feet off the pedal and the momentum swung Tampa's way, they were rewarded 3 minutes later as Tyler Johnson erased the deficit with the tying goal.

Montreal picked up their play shortly after losing the lead and it looked like they may get the go-ahead goal just before the 10 minute mark with Brendan Gallagher getting a breakaway. But Gudlevkis remained patient and Gallagher couldn't get a proper shot off, his backhand easily dealt with by Gudlevskis.

The next 10 minutes was end to end, both teams getting chances to take the lead until just over two minutes from time, when after battling with Michael Bournival in the corner, Cedric Paquette took a minor penalty for hooking Bournival. Montreal finally got it's powerplay going and Max Pacioretty scored his first ever playoff goal, jamming the puck under Gudlevskis to win the game for Montreal in the closing moments.

Montreal has now won 15 of its past 19 games, with a 2.32 GAA and 3 shutouts. The habs are getting scoring from all four lines, solid goaltending from Carey Price and are looking very tidy through the neutral zone. Whilst there are still some questions over their powerplay which appears to have some issues trying to make the perfect play, it looks as if the red-hot Canadiens are playing like a team that could go all the way.

- images courtesy of Getty Images & NHL.com

See also:
Montreal Canadiens power outage
Montreal vs Tampa series has it all
Controversy at the Bell Centre
Rene Bourque scores in 11 seconds
BACK STOP - Goaltender woes
Montreal Canadiens finish season strong