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BOX SCORE
MONTREAL (AP) -- Now that the trading deadline has passed, the
Montreal Canadiens probably wish they picked up some extra centers.
Trevor Linden became the second man in the middle lost to injury
when he broke two ribs Tuesday night in the Canadiens' 4-3 loss to
the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning, who snapped a seven-game losing streak.
|  | | Tampa Bay's Fredrik Modin celebrates after scoring the winning goal, his second goal of the game. |
The injury, which will sideline Linden for the remainder of the
season, came just three days after captain Saku Koivu tore a knee
ligament. Koivu is also out for Montreal's final 12 games.
"It's going to be a huge challenge for us for the 12 remaining
games," said Sergei Zholtok, who scored his 22nd goal.
Linden, who scored a first-period goal, was hurt when Tampa Bay
defenseman Pavel Kubina wrestled him down at the edge of the
Lightning crease and fell on top of him.
The Canadiens, who have battled back into playoff contention
despite losing 483 man-games to injury, lost to a sub-.500 team for
the second successive game after winning 11 of 15.
Fredrik Modin scored twice and Vincent Lecavalier added his 20th
goal for the Lightning, who with 46 points have the NHL's
second-worst record.
"The whole game we were just hitting, and playing well
defensively," Lecavalier said.
Petr Svoboda assisted on both of Modin's goals.
Linden, who scored his 13th goal on Montreal's first shot, was
to remain in the hospital overnight and be re-examined Wednesday.
Modin ended a 10-game scoring drought at 3:56 of the third when
his snap shot from outside the blue line tipped off the top of
goalie Jeff Hackett's glove and fell over the line to give Tampa
Bay a 3-1 lead.
"I wish I could have that one back," Hackett said. "I had it.
I looked up to see what their forecheck was and it just popped out.
It was just bad luck."
The Canadiens wasted a chance to improve their playoff
positioning. Montreal is in a seventh-place tie with Pittsburgh,
just one point ahead of Carolina and the New York Rangers.
"The last three games, we haven't been sharp, for whatever
reason," Hackett said. "The gap between our forwards and defense
is so wide, and I don't know why. There are 12 games left, and
there are going to be ups and downs."
Zholtok scored at 5:05 of the third to draw the Canadiens within
3-2, but Modin added his 19th goal at 14:03 for the Lightning, who
won for just the fifth time in 27 games.
Turner Stevenson cut the deficit to 4-3 at 17:44.
Lecavalier, the first pick overall in the 1998 draft, redirected
Mike Johnson's shot off his skate at the edge of the Montreal
crease to put Tampa Bay ahead 2-1 just 5:39 in.
Steve Martins deflected defenseman Jassen Cullimore's shot past
Hackett at 1:43 to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.
Lightning goalie Dan Cloutier was taken to the hospital for
observation after he was struck in the side of the neck by a
Dainius Zubrus slap shot early in the second period.
Rich Parent stopped 17 of 18 shots after replacing Cloutier and
earned his first victory this season.
"Our goaltending was incredible tonight," Lecavalier said.
"It started with Dan and then continued with Rich Parent. Overall,
it was a great game for the Lightning."
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Montreal Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 3
Nashville 2
Tampa Bay 4
Montreal 3
Colorado 4
Anaheim 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Fredrik Modin's shot tips off Jeff Hackett's glove and into the net.
avi: 557 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
This play ended Trevor Linden's season.
avi: 557 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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