PRICE SHUTS DOWN THE BOLTS AS THE HABS WIN 4-1! THEY TAKE A 2-0 SERIES LEAD

          Earlier tonight in Tampa, Florida, it was game 2 of the series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Going into this game, the Habs had a 1-0 series lead thanks to the ot winner by Weiss in game 1. They were looking to go perfect on the road in the first two games. 5 minutes into the game, Gionta had a breakaway, he went to his backhand and was stopped by Lindback. That was the best chance of the period in a scoreless game. The shots were 11-10 in favour of Tampa. 3 minutes into the second, the Habs went on a powerplay, Pacioretty won the faceoff to Subban and he fired a shot and it was deflected in by David Desharnais to make it 1-0 Montreal. That was the Habs first powerplay goal in 9 games. 8 minutes later, Vanek played the puck to Bourque at center and he skated by 3 Lightning players and he scored to make it 2-0!

        The shots in the second were 8-8. 11 minutes into the third, the Bolts turned the puck over at center and Gallagher brought the puck in and fired a shot from the right wing and it found its way in to make it 3-0. That was it for Lindback as he gave up 3 goals on 23 shots, so in comes Gudlevskis . Bourque would score a rap around goal later in the period to make 4-0.  Purcell would break Prices shut out bid with under two to go as the Habs go onto win 4-1 and take a 2-0 series lead. "I think we're really focused about the work we have to do," coach Michel Therrien said. "When we approach every game, we don't want to try to see the end result. Our focus, it's been like that every game. ... I like the composure of that team, I like the leadership of that team." Gudlevskis came into the game in relief and gave up 1 goal on 3 shots. "We're not playing well," captain Steven Stamkos said. "We're not going to sugar-coat anything. We have a lot better than these first two games. It's turnovers, it's compete level, but we know what's in here. We know we have this group."

         In the win, Price made 26 saves."It's such a fine line in the difference between the games and for us it's just been consistent play and we're sticking to our systems and we're limiting the mistakes," said forward Brendan Gallagher. "We just felt comfortable today. We were able to execute our game plan as well as we wanted to and we got rewarded." The last two times the Habs stole both games on the road to open a series was in 2006 (against Carolina) and in 2011 (against Boston) and both times they blew the lead and lost the series. But with the way the Habs are playing so far, I don't see history repeating itself for a third time. Expect the Habs to go home and grab at least one or two of the games on home ice if not both. The Habs next game will be Sunday night.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo