Apr 18, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Rene Bourque (17) skates with the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Anders Lindback (39) defends during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Tampa Bay Times Forum. The Canadiens won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The much maligned Rene Bourque scored two highlight reel goals and Carey Price was perfect for 58 minutes as the Montreal Canadiens got the job done in Tampa once again by a score of 4-1. They now return home to Montreal with a 2-0 lead in the best of 7 series and a chance to end it early.
Montreal finally scored a power play goal, with David Desharnais redirecting a P.K. Subban slap-pass for their first goal with the man advantage in their last 27 chances to open the scoring early in the 2nd period. Bourque scored his first of the game taking a pass from Thomas Vanek in full flight through the neutral zone, splitting Sami Salo and Eric Brewer and deking Anders Lindback for the two goal lead.
The Habs got to Lindback again, chasing him midway through the third after allowing 3 goals on 23 shots, when Brendan Gallagher‘s first shot was blocked but went right back to him and his second attempt got through. Bourque capped the scoring for the Habs with a nice solo effort, picking up his own rebound and wrapping it around from behind the net before Kristers Gudlevskis could get over to the other post.
Ted Purcell broke Price’s shutout bid with just under 2 minutes left, but it was too little, too late for the Lightning, who now face an uphill battle to get back in the series and return the favor on the road. They have to be hoping Ben Bishop is ready to return to the crease, because as bad as Lindback has been in this series (.881 SP), he was 4-8-2 on the road this season with a .885 SP and 3.06 GAA away from Tampa.
Game 3 is set for the Bell Centre Sunday evening.