| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
MONTREAL (AP) -- Now the Montreal Canadiens are Pittsburgh Penguins fans.
The Canadiens' 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night kept them even for the final NHL Eastern Conference playoff spot with Buffalo, which won 5-0 in New Jersey.
|  | | Tampa Bay goalie Dieter Kochan shows his dejection after giving up a goal to Montreal's Turner Stevenson. |
The Sabres play host to the Penguins on Friday night and the Canadiens will be rooting for a Pittsburgh win.
"We did what we had to," said Montreal captain Shayne Corson. "But we hoped for a little help and didn't get it.
"Buffalo's a good team and they're playing well, so I hope Pittsburgh plays all their guys and gets the win for us."
Patrice Brisebois scored twice, while Sheldon Souray, Turner Stevenson and Dainius Zubrus also had goals for the Canadiens.
Todd Warriner ended Jeff Hackett's bid for shutouts on consecutive nights with a goal at 4:51 of the third period for the Lightning. Hackett shut out the Rangers 3-0 in New York on Wednesday.
But the wins are meaningless unless Buffalo falters.
The Canadiens have only one game remaining, Saturday night at home against Ottawa, while Buffalo has two, including a finale Sunday against Washington.
The teams could end up tied in points and wins and the next tiebreaker, their head-to-head season series, is also tied 2-2. The winner of the final playoff spot would then be the team with the best overall goal differential. Buffalo has a six-goal edge on Montreal.
And there's concern that Pittsburgh, which has a playoff berth clinched, may rest injured superstar Jaromir Jagr.
"For us, that wouldn't be too good," said Canadiens winger Brian Savage.
He added in jest: "Maybe we'll get Rosie (teammate Martin Rucinsky) to call his Czech buddies on the Penguins and tell them to play."
The Canadiens, gunning for goals as well as the win, jumped on the Lightning early, outshooting them 10-3 in the opening period and 35-22 overall. They chased Lightning starter Dieter Kochen at 11:13 of the second period in favor of Zac Bierk.
"We did everything we could to score as many as possible and not give any up," said coach Alain Vigneault. "We need help, there's still light. There's still hope."
Lightning defenceman Marek Posmyk left in the first period with a bruised neck after a collision with a teammate. He was taken to a hospital for X-rays.
And emerging star Vincent Lecavalier left late in the third period with an ankle injury. Lecavalier was to have X-rays when the team arrived in Toronto late Thursday night.
"We got down 2-0 early and it was pretty tough," Lecavalier said. "They're a pretty hungry team and they played with a lot of intensity.
"They were better than us in this game."
| |
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Montreal Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Islanders 2
Ottawa 1
Montreal 5
Tampa Bay 1
Buffalo 5
New Jersey 0
Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Turner Stevenson adds a goal as the Habs roll the Lightning.
avi: 509 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
