The skinny: Ben Scrivens turned in another impressive performance with 37 saves and Tomas Plekanec had two goals and an assist as the Canadiens ran their current win streak to three games with a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. The win gave the Canadiens a 2-0 edge over Tampa Bay this season and it seems they have figured a way to beat Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop, whose record against Montreal is now 10-2-3. The win moved the Canadiens into 10th place in the Eastern Conference. They are only three points behind eighth-place Pittsburgh but the Penguins have three games in hand.
Breaking on top: Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring with his 14th goal of the season at 5:56 of the first period. Gallagher was on the right wing on an odd-man rush with Plekanec and Alex Galchenyuk. He elected to keep the puck and found the top corner on Bishop’s glove side.
Evening things up: A failure to clear the puck out of their zone proved costly as the Lightning tied the score at 1-1 after only 40 seconds of play in the second period. Victor Hedman kept the puck in and set up Valtteri Filppula who beat Scrivens with a shot through traffic on the glove side.
Taking charge: The Canadiens responded with two goals in the second period to grab a 3-1 lead. Plekanec, who picked up an assist on the first goal, made it 2-1 at 6:40 when he scored on a rebound after Gallagher deflected Mark Barberio’s shot from the blue line. Devante Smith-Pelly was credited with a goal at 19:52 but P.K. Subban did the heavy lifting as he extended his consecutive-game points streak to seven games. Subban used one of his trademark spin moves to elude Alex Killorn in the corner and then threw a backhander to the net which caromed in off Smith-Pelly’s skates.
Gallery: Canadiens vs. Lightning
Action from the Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning NHL game at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher reaches over Tampa Bay Lightning's Anton Stralman as he battles for the puck with Brian Boyle, left, during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher reaches over Tampa Bay Lightning's Anton Stralman as he battles for the puck with Brian Boyle, left, during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher shoots the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning Jonathan Marchessault, left and Anton Stralman for the first goal of the game during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher shoots the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning Jonathan Marchessault, left and Anton Stralman for the first goal of the game during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher gets past Tampa Bay Lightning Jonathan Marchessault, left as he shoots the puck for the first goal of the game during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher gets past Tampa Bay Lightning Jonathan Marchessault, left as he shoots the puck for the first goal of the game during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher battles for the puck with Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Nesterov, 2nd from left, in front of goalie Ben Bishop during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016. Lightning's Alex Kilorn and Canadiens Tomas Plekanec watch the play in the background.]()
Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher battles for the puck with Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Nesterov, 2nd from left, in front of goalie Ben Bishop during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016. Lightning's Alex Kilorn and Canadiens Tomas Plekanec watch the play in the background.
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![Montreal Canadiens Nathan Beaulieu, left, throws a punch at Cédric Paquette of the Tampa Bay Lightning during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Nathan Beaulieu, left, throws a punch at Cédric Paquette of the Tampa Bay Lightning during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Devante Smith-Pelly screens Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop as shot hits Ondrej Palat, left, during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Devante Smith-Pelly screens Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop as shot hits Ondrej Palat, left, during first period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens bumps with Tampa Bay Lightning Alex Kilorn during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens bumps with Tampa Bay Lightning Alex Kilorn during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens is screened by Tampa Bay Lightning Ryan Callahan as Lightning's Nikita Kucherov scores during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens is screened by Tampa Bay Lightning Ryan Callahan as Lightning's Nikita Kucherov scores during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens defencemen Alexei Emelin, left, and Tom Gilbert sandwich Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Kucherov during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens defencemen Alexei Emelin, left, and Tom Gilbert sandwich Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Kucherov during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens defenceman Nathan Beaulieu grimaces after taking a shot off his foot during second period of National Hockey League game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Nathan Beaulieu grimaces after taking a shot off his foot during second period of National Hockey League game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher gets hit with a shot while standing in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher gets hit with a shot while standing in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens follows the puck as it is played in corner during second period of National Hockey League game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens follows the puck as it is played in corner during second period of National Hockey League game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens pushes Tampa Bay Lightning Steven Stamkos during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens pushes Tampa Bay Lightning Steven Stamkos during second period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Max Pacioretty is knocked off the puck by Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman while also being pursued by Valtteri Filppula during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Max Pacioretty is knocked off the puck by Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman while also being pursued by Valtteri Filppula during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk and Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Nesterov, left, compete for the loose puck during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk and Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Nesterov, left, compete for the loose puck during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Max Pacioretty pressures Tampa Bay Lightning Vladislav Namestkikov behind the Lightning net during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Max Pacioretty pressures Tampa Bay Lightning Vladislav Namestkikov behind the Lightning net during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk holds off Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman as Lightning's Victor Hedman and Canadiens Tomas Plekanec trail the play during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk holds off Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman as Lightning's Victor Hedman and Canadiens Tomas Plekanec trail the play during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk is chased by Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman, right and Victor Hedman during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk is chased by Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman, right and Victor Hedman during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop bats the puck away from Montreal Canadiens Tomas Fleischmann as Lightning Nikita Nesterov, 89, and Nikita Kucherov watch during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop bats the puck away from Montreal Canadiens Tomas Fleischmann as Lightning Nikita Nesterov, 89, and Nikita Kucherov watch during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman sticks a knee out to slow down Montreal Canadiens Lars Eller during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Tampa Bay Lightning Anton Stralman sticks a knee out to slow down Montreal Canadiens Lars Eller during third period of National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben scrivens covers up loose puck during second period of National Hockey League game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben scrivens covers up loose puck during second period of National Hockey League game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
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![Montreal Canadiens Tomas Plekanec tosses a puck into the stands after being named first star of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.]()
Montreal Canadiens Tomas Plekanec tosses a puck into the stands after being named first star of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday February 9, 2016.
Finishing touch: Plekanec completed his three-point night when he went wide and found an opening behind Bishop for his 12th goal of the season at 6:17 of the third period. Plekanec has three goals and four assists in Montreal’s last three games. Hedman scored for Tampa Bay at 9:03 but it was a case of too little too late.
Beaulieu returns — and leaves: With Jeff Petry sidelined — he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury — Nathan Beaulieu returned to the lineup after two games as a healthy scratch. Beaulieu made his presence felt when he traded punches with Cédric Paquette. The fight ended when one of Beaulieu’s haymakers shattered Paquette’s visor. Beaulieu and Brian Flynn both left the game with injuries in the second period and neither returned.
On the road again: The Canadiens begin a three-game road trip Friday in Buffalo (7 p.m., Sportsnet East, RDS, TSN Radio 690). From there, they travel to Arizona for a game Monday and on to Colorado Wednesday. The next game at the Bell Centre will be next Friday against Philadelphia.
