CANADIENS AT LIGHTNING, Amalie Forum, Monday, 7:30 p.m., CITY Montreal, RDS, TSN-690 Radio
The Canadiens are still looking for a quick start out of the gate, but it hasn’t been a problem because they have put together a series of miracle finishes to open the season with three road wins. They beat Toronto with a goal in the final minute of regulation and then posted shootout wins over Washington and Philadelphia. Their season-opening road trip winds up in Tampa where the Lightning have had some experience with overtime. They beat cross-state rival Florida in OT in their season opener and then lost in a shootout to Ottawa on Saturday.
Rivalry renewed: The last time the Canadiens were in Tampa, they were completing a sweep of the Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Much was made of the Lightning’s lack of playoff experience but the biggest factor in the Canadiens’ win was the absence of Tampa goaltender Ben Bishop. He was injured and Montreal took full advantage of backup Anders Lindback.
Plekanec on a streak: Tomas Plekanec has scored a goal in each of Montreal’s three games and his four goals have him tied for the NHL lead with Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds. The last time Plekanec had a three-game goal streak was Oct. 25-29, 2010.
Missing faces: It will be strange seeing the Lightning without Vinnie Lecavalier or Marty St. Louis, but this is now Steven Stamkos’s team. Stamkos picked up an assist in the loss to Ottawa for his first point of the season.
By the numbers: The Canadiens have scored six of their eight goals this season in the third period. … Montreal is one of seven teams without a power-play goal this season. The Canadiens are 0-for-10 and that includes a couple of 5-on-3 advantages. The penalty-killing unit, which has been one of the best in the NHL in recent years, has allowed three goals in 13 opportunities and currently ranks 15th with an 84.6 per cent success rate.
Injury update: Both teams took the day off Sunday but it remains to be seen whether the rest will benefit a couple of injured players. Canadiens’ defenceman Alexei Emelin has missed one game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Jonathan Drouin, who is being touted as a favourite for rookie-of-the-year honours, has yet to play this season because he is recovering from a broken thumb. He is skating with the team but has been held out of contact drills. Tampa coach Jon Cooper said Drouin is close to playing but he’ll most likely make his NHL debut Tuesday against New Jersey. Cooper said he doesn’t want to rush Drouin and wants to give him the best chance to succeed.
Home sweet home: The Canadiens play the Boston Bruins in their home opener Thursday. That’s the start of a four-game homestand which also includes visits from Colorado, Detroit and the New York Rangers.
phickey@montrealgazette.com
Twitter: zababes1
