Canadiens Overpower Lightning to Take Control of Series

Alexandre Texier scores the game-winning goal off the glove of Andrei Vasilevskiy Wednesday night at Benchmark International Arena. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

Alexandre Texier scored the game-winning goal early in the third period as the Montreal Canadiens upended the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, 3-2. Brendan Gallagher returned to the Habs lineup for the first time in the playoffs to score early in the game, and Kirby Dach added a goal in the second period.

The win puts Montreal in control of the Eastern Conference First Round series with a 3-2 lead, and the teams head back north on Friday for Game 6.

For the Lightning, the loss is a setback after evening the series Sunday night at the Bell Centre with a 3-2 comeback. The Bolts must now win the next two games if they wish to advance to the Second Round of the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Montreal starts fast

The Canadiens didn't let Sunday night's collapse affect them as they dictated play in Game 5 right from the start. Looking fresh and fast, Gallagher powered a wrist shot past Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy only three minutes into the game.

Alex Newhook broke up Lightning forward Corey Perry's attempt to collect a loose puck in the neutral zone, grabbed the puck himself, and shot wide of the net. Newhook collected the rebound off the endboards and shot again, this time hitting off the pads of Vasilevskiy.

Brendan Gallagher celebrates his opening goal early in the first period on Wednesday night. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

The puck bounced in front of the crease to the waiting stick of Gallagher, who was in the right place at the right time.

Gallagher was a healthy scratch for the first four games of the series.

Montreal has scored first in all five games of the series, putting the Lightning in early jams they've had problems getting out of throughout.

Dominic James Gets Lightning on the Board in the Second

Dominic James scored the first playoff goal of his NHL career at the 6:49 mark of the second period. The Lightning rookie missed nearly two months with a lower-body injury that required surgery before returning to the ice for Game 1.

James skated in with the puck from center ice with McDonagh alongside for a two-on-one rush. James fired a shot over the shoulder of Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes to even the score at 1-1.

Dominic James celebrates the first playoff goal of his career. Unfortunately, the celebration would be short-lived, as Montreal would score 11 seconds later. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

The celebration was short-lived when Montreal scored only 11 seconds later.

Montreal won the ensuing faceoff following James' goal, and Zachary Bolduc found Dach streaking into the Lightning zone. Dach got around Gage Goncalves, drove on net, and got a shot off that Vasilevskiy initially poked-checked.

Dach collected the puck on the other side of Vasilevskiy and punched it in.

"You dream about (the first playoff goal), right?” James said. “It's just so tough that they scored the shift after, and we were out there. It kind of rains on the parade a little bit."

The quick goal took the wind right out of Tampa Bay's sails until later in the period, when Jake Guentzel evened up the score again.

Jake Guentzel and Oliver Bjorkstrand celebrate Guentzel's goal to tie the game, 2-2. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

In a play strikingly similar to James' goal, Guentzel scooped up the puck at the Lightning blue line and raced down the ice with Oliver Bjorkstrand in tow, splitting defenseman Alexandre Carrier.

Guentzel snapped the shot through Dobes' five-hole at the 17:23 mark to make the score 2-2 going into the third period.

Montreal Pulls Away in the Third

The Canadiens started the third period just as fast and strong as they did at the start of the game.

Texier took a stretch pass from Lane Hutson and threw a wrist shot from inside the left faceoff circle. The shot went off the glove of Vasilevskiy and into the net.

Tampa Bay continued to try to get back into the game; however, Dobes played an exceptional game in net for Montreal. The Canadiens' netminder stopped 38 of 40 shots.

Vasilevskiy stopped 21 of 24 shots.

Andrei Vasilevskiy looks back in disbelief as Alexandre Texier's shot lies in the back of the Tampa Bay net to give Montreal a 3-2 lead in the third period. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

Unfortunately, some defensive miscues that have plagued the Lightning over the past few weeks have left the Lightning facing elimination on Friday night.

“It stems way before that. It doesn’t stem from when Texier gets down the ice. It stems from the change and how we went about it and the mistakes we made on the way there,” Lightning coach Cooper said. “Forever, all Vasy does is bail us out of those. The rare time sometimes he doesn’t. He should’ve never gotten that deep into our zone, and he got a lot on it. It wasn’t like Vasy got beat. He had it, and it took a Montreal bounce, unfortunately for us."

The Lightning have their backs against the wall now that the series heads back to Montreal.

“We've got to drag them back here,” forward Corey Perry said. “You know it’s going to be a hostile environment. It’s loud, but block it out and go play. We found a way last game there. We got to do it again.”

“I understand the next game is a potential elimination game but the last game we played there, we lose that one and we’re down 3-1 (and) you’re really chasing the series,” Cooper said. “They’ve been in that building twice now and have a pretty good feeling of what to expect. How’s it going to go? I can’t say for sure, but I’ll bet we play better than we did tonight.”

Special Team Issues Continue

Tampa Bay's special teams continued to have issues in the series. An early four-minute double minor by defenseman Ryan McDonagh for high-sticking Nick Suzuki was nullified by the Bolts' penalty kill unit.

However, the time wasted killing off the penalty limited the Bolts' chances on offense after already falling behind on the scoresheet.

Alex Newhook grabs his own rebound off the endboards to set up another shot attempt before Brendan Gallagher eventually scored. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

Montreal gave Tampa Bay two opportunities after Delay of Game penalties on Jake Evans and Hutson put them a man down twice. Unfortunately, the Bolts could not convert on either.

For the first time in the series, neither team scored on the power play. The Lightning went 0-for-3 on the power play, and Montreal went 0-for-2.

Faceoff Challenges Continue

Another startling shortcoming on Wednesday night came from the faceoff circle. Tampa Bay went 17-of-50 (34%) from the faceoff dots.

The Lightning are only 45% from the faceoff circle in the series.

“Possession is huge,” forward Brayden Point said. “There’s not a lot of room out there. Starting with the puck is massive.”

Three Stars of the Game

1. Alexandre Texier, Montreal. Scored the game-winner to send the Canadiens back to Montreal with a 3-2 series lead.

2. Dominic James, Tampa Bay. Scored his first playoff goal to get the Lightning on the board.

3. Jakub Dobes, Montreal. Stopped 38 of 40 shots.

Up Next

The Lightning face elimination Friday night at the Bell Centre in a must-win Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens. Puck drop is at 7 pm.