Bolts Dynamic Duo crushes Canadiens as Bolts win 4-1

Tampa-Fla. (RSE) Steven Stamkos had two goals and two assists to go along with Marty St Louis who had a goal and two assists as they lead the Tampa Bay Lightning (22-11-5) to a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens (20-16-2) in front of raucous crowd at the St Pete Times Forum.  The Bolts dynamic duo Stamkos and St Louis continues to lead the NHL in points by teammates with a combined 107 points. 

The win put the Lightning back in first place in the Southeast division with 49 points.

Montreal had the momentum early in the game taking a 1-0, lead but it was two inexcusable bench minor penalties for too many men on the ice that gave Tampa Bay a 5 on 3 for 1:15.  Marty St Louis cashed in for 16^th goal of the season on a bad angle shot at 2:48 of the second period to tie the game at 1-1.  It was the 10^th goal in a row scored by St Louis, Vinnie Lecavalier or Steven Stamkos.

After the St Louis goal tied the game it energized the Bolts forecheck as they took the play to the Habs; which lead to Pavel Kubina banging in a rebound of a St Louis shot for his 2^nd goal of the season at 12:31 to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead.  For Kubina, he scored his 67^th career goal as a Lightning player which is a team record for defensivemen.

Stamkos scored a spectacular goal on a penalty shot which brought the house to their feet with a spin a rama backhand shot to score his 30^th goal of the season past Montreal goaltender Carey Price at 1:46 of the third period to increase the Lightning lead to 3-1.   Stamkos was not done, as he took a pass from Ryan Malone and scored on a wrap around for his 31^st goal to put the hammer down giving the Lightning the final margin of victory at 4-1 at 4:40 of the third period.

Stamkos had been working on the move in practice which he said he always scores on so he decided to finally bring the move out in a game after being 0 for 4 in shootouts this year. 

Coach Boucher talked after the game “It takes courage to pull that move off in a game, but it was Steven’s leadership in the third period that I was most impressed.”   

The coach also felt like it energized the team on the bench to press on to keep the pressure on Montreal.

“It was huge play in the game” Coach reiterated after the game.

It was a tough start for the Rookie Goaltender Cedrick Desjardins, as the first shot on goal ends up in his net 58 seconds into the game; Max Pacioretty scored his second goal of the year as he came down left wing with speed to guide a backhand passed the young Lightning net minder.

After that start Desjardins settled down and played well from the second period on as he made 27 saves on 28 shots to earn his first win of his NHL career.  Desjardins saved his best for the third period as he stopped all 15 shots.

“I am not surprised that the kid shut the door that’s what he does.” Boucher smiled as he talked about his young goaltender after the game.

The Lightning is back home on Saturday night to play against the New York Rangers,  before they head out on another 4 game road trip.