TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Steven Stamkos had two goals and two assists, rookie goalie Cedrick Desjardins won in his NHL debut and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on Thursday night.
Stamkos made it 3-1 at 1:46 of the third when he beat goalie Carey Price with a backhander after a spin move in the slot during a penalty shot. The center extended Tampa Bay’s advantage to 4-1 on a wraparound goal, his 31st of the season, with 15:20 left.
Desjardins, a former Montreal minor leaguer obtained by the Lightning in an offseason trade, made 27 saves.
Martin St. Louis and Pavel Kubina also scored for Tampa Bay. The Lightning are 7-1-1 in their last nine games.
Max Pacioretty scored for the Canadiens, who have lost eight of 10. Price was pulled with 7:50 to go in the third and was replaced by Alex Auld.
