Kirby Dach and Jonathan Drouin gave the hosts a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes. Despite the Bolts looking their strongest in the middle frame and pulling within a goal, the Canadiens got an insurance tally from Mike Matheson late in the period that would go on to stand as the game-winner.
With the loss, the Lightning fell to 3-1-0 in the regular season series against their Atlantic Division rivals.
The road trip now moves on to Ottawa, where the Bolts will face the Senators on Thursday.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
MTL 1, TBL 0
8:27 Kirby Dach (13) - Nick Suzuki
Darren Raddysh's outlet pass from behind the Lightning net was intercepted by Nick Suzuki along the far wall. Suzuki fed Kirby Dach in the slot and his shot trickled through Andrei Vasilevskiy and over the line.
MTL 2, TBL 1
14:00 Jonathan Drouin (2) - Denis Gurianov, Justin Barron
Off the rush, Jonathan Drouin went unmarked on the left wing and was wide open for Denis Gurianov to get him the puck. Drouin then picked out the top corner on Vasilevskiy to double Montreal's lead.
2nd Period
MTL 2, TBL 1
8:58 Brayden Point (44) - Steven Stamkos, Mikhail Sergachev - PPG
A wrinkle in the Lightning's power play setup saw Steven Stamkos up high at the point and Brayden Point set up in the left circle. In a reversal of his usual role, Stamkos put the puck on a tee for Point to one-time past Sam Montembeault.
MTL 3, TBL 1
16:58 Mike Matheson (8) - David Savard, Nick Suzuki
Tampa Bay dominated throughout most of the second period but had their deficit grow back to two late in the period on a seeing eye point shot from Mike Matheson. Shot came from the left point and was tipped ever so slightly on its way past Vasilevskiy.
3rd Period
MTL 3, TBL 2
14:54 Pat Maroon (3) - Ross Colton, Corey Perry
Corey Perry knocked down a Montreal clearing attempt and Ross Colton jumped on the loose puck at the right circle. He didn't get much on the shot, but the puck rolled all the way through to Pat Maroon at the near post to put home and make it a one-goal game.
