MTL@TBL: Game recap

TAMPA - The Canadiens put up a good fight with a depleted roster, but were defeated 5-4 in overtime by the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Tuesday.

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The contest was a first game for some, and a first game back for others. Forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard and defenseman Corey Schueneman made their NHL debuts, while Brendan Gallagher and Sami Niku returned for the first time since being placed in COVID protocols earlier in December.

Sam Montembeault made his first start in goal since November 26 at Buffalo.
The Canadiens were strong out of the gate, outshooting Tampa 5-2 in the first half of the opening frame before Lukas Vejdemo opened the scoring for Montreal. The Swedish forward was playing his first NHL game since March 10, 2020.

Michael Pezzetta and Cedric Paquette picked up assists on the tally.
Brayden Point, returning from a 14-game absence, followed with a pair of unanswered goals to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead.
Tampa carried that lead into the room after 20 minutes, and was also leading 10-9 in shots.
The Habs got back in the game early in the second, with Harvey-Pinard celebrating his first NHL game with his first goal in the big show. The Jonquiere native waited patiently in the slot and one-timed a nifty backhand pass from Sami Niku past Lightning goalie Maxime Lagace.

Niku and Schueneman earned helpers on the play. It was Schueneman's first point in the NHL.
The Canadiens thought they had another when Gallagher whacked it in past Lagace just past the six-minute mark of the period, but the goal was immediately waved off due to goaltender interference and the call was confirmed with a coach's challenge from Montreal.
Ross Colton gave the home team another lead towards the halfway mark of the middle frame with a one-timer from the dot to Montembeault's left.
After two periods, the Lightning were leading 3-2 and 27-19 in shots.
In the final stanza, defenseman Kale Clague tied things up with just under 14 minutes to go when he rifled a shot from near the faceoff dot to Lagace's right to make it a 33-3 game. It was the 23-year-old's first in the NHL as well.
Cole Caufield and Ryan Poehling got the assists on the marker.

Then, former Lightning defenseman David Savard displayed some nifty stickwork and danced into the Tampa zone and beat Lagace with a wrister from the slot.

The goal was scored unassisted. It was the St. Hyacinthe native's first as a Hab.
Former Canadien Corey Perry tied the game with 20 seconds remaining in regulation.
Montembeault made 32 saves in the loss.

The Canadiens play next on Thursday night against the Hurricanes in Carolina.