TAMPA, Fla.
The hopes of a historic comeback ended Tuesday night as Ben Bishop and the Tampa Bay Lightning regained their mastery over the Canadiens and cruised to a 4-1 victory at Amalie Arena. The win gave the Lightning a 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.
The Lightning’s opponent in the conference final will be the winner of Wednesday’s Game 7 between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens were hoping to be the first Montreal team to win a series after falling behind 3-0, but Tampa Bay displayed the form that allowed it to sweep the five-game regular-season series against Montreal.
The goalies by the numbers: Bishop made 18 saves while Carey Price, who was the No. 1 goaltender in the NHL in the regular season, made 24 saves as the Lightning outshot Montreal for the first time in this series.
Lightning strikes: Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead when Nikita Kucherov deflected Ondrej Palat’s shot from the side boards at 15:35 0f the first period. Tampa Bay outshot the Canadiens 13-6 in the first period with five shots coming on a power play late in the period after P.K. Subban was called for delay of game. Price made a big save on Steven Stamkos who was left alone in front during the power play. Tomas Plekanec had a chance in front after a rush by Brendan Gallagher at 13:09, but Bishop made the save.
Widening the gap: The Lightning scored twice in the second period. Stamkos picked up his third goal of the series at 5:12. He took a short pass from Alex Killorn and found room to shoot between defencemen Jeff Petry and Alexei Emelin. Tampa Bay effectively sealed the victory when Ondrej Palat scored a power-play goal at 18:56, only 18 seconds after Devante Smith-Pelly was sent off for holding.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, right, scores on Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, right, scores on Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos, top second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos, top second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens fans watch Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on big screens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens fans watch Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on big screens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens fans watch Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the big screens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens fans watch Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the big screens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, scores on Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, scores on Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens right wing Brandon Prust attempts to get a rebound by Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brandon Prust attempts to get a rebound by Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price makes a save as Tampa Bay Lightning centre Alex Killorn and Montreal Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov fight for the rebound during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price makes a save as Tampa Bay Lightning centre Alex Killorn and Montreal Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov fight for the rebound during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher attempts a shot against Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher attempts a shot against Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning centre Brian Boyle attempts a shot against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the first period of Gme 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning centre Brian Boyle attempts a shot against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the first period of Gme 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![AislinWeb-Habs out]()
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![Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, bottom, as Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin reacts during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, bottom, as Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin reacts during the first period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price reacts after being scored on by Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, not pictured, during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price reacts after being scored on by Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, not pictured, during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop deflects a puck during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Montreal Canadiens at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop deflects a puck during the second period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Montreal Canadiens at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, centre, as Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban skates past during the third period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, centre, as Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban skates past during the third period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien, standing left, and the Canadiens bench react to the goal by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, not pictured, as Tampa fans cheer during the third period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien, standing left, and the Canadiens bench react to the goal by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, not pictured, as Tampa fans cheer during the third period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos, left, shakes hands with Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price after the Lightning eliminated the Canadiens from the playoffs in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos, left, shakes hands with Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price after the Lightning eliminated the Canadiens from the playoffs in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Montreal Canadiens players react after being eliminated from the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Montreal Canadiens players react after being eliminated from the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning centre Tyler Johnson attempts a shot against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the third period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning centre Tyler Johnson attempts a shot against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during the third period of Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos hugs Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban after the Lightning eliminated the Montreal Canadiens from the playoffs in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning centre Steven Stamkos hugs Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban after the Lightning eliminated the Montreal Canadiens from the playoffs in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
Gallery: Canadiens vs. Lightning, May 12, 2015
It was do or die for the Habs against the Bolts, and they came up short in a 4-1 loss at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Here are some images from the game, as well as a couple from the Bell Centre in Montreal, where some 20,000 fans watched the game on the big screens there.
The last gasps: The Canadiens were handed a lifeline when Brenden Morrow was penalized for elbowing 17 seconds into the third period. The Canadiens not only failed to capitalize but Price was forced to make a save on a breakaway by Tyler Johnson. The Canadiens were 0-for-2 on the power play. They were 1-for-14 in the series and 2-for-34 in the playoffs. The Lightning was 1-for-2 in the game and 7-for-16 in the series. Dale Weise had a clean breakaway at 7:12 of the third period, but Bishop made a glove save. Max Pacioretty scored with just under five minutes to play to spoil the shutout, while Kucherov scored his second of the night into an empty net.
Marchessault makes debut: In a surprise move, Tampa coach Jon Cooper decided to use “Black Ace” Jonathan Marchessault as the replacement for veteran Ryan Callahan, who is out indefinitely after undergoing an emergency appendectomy Monday night. Marchessault, who was making his NHL playoff debut, spent most of the season with Springfield in the AHL. He had a goal and an assist in his two games with the Lightning. Marchessault received the nod over Jonathan Drouin, who was the No. 3 overall choice in the 2013 draft. Drouin had four goals and 28 assists in 70 games with the Lightning, but he has no points and is minus-4 in three playoff appearances.
phickey@montrealgazette.com
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