Evans scores in 5th straight game, Canadiens defeat Lightning 

TAMPA -- Jake Evans scored in his fifth straight game to help the Montreal Canadiens earn a 5-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Sunday.

Joel Armia had a goal and an assist, and Alexandre Carrier had two assists for the Canadiens (16-17-3), who beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 on Saturday and have won five of six. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves.

"These are two tough buildings to come in and get wins, I'm really happy with everyone's effort," Montreal captain Nick Suzuki said. "Both teams are on a back-to-back and the mind is the first thing to go. I thought we played a really smart game, managed the puck well, managed the game fully, so it's a big two points for us."

Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov scored for the Lightning (20-12-2), who had won two in a row, including 6-2 against the New York Rangers on Saturday. Jonas Johansson made 32 saves.

"We've had a pretty good stretch of games, especially in the month of December, and we've been playing in a pretty predictable, consistent way for quite some time," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "Unfortunately coming out of the break... we've just taken a step back in the mentality of the way we play."

Alex Newhook gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 12:07 of the first period with a one-timer from the hash marks off a pass by Mike Matheson.

Hagel scored 37 seconds into the second period with a wrist shot from the high slot to make it 1-1.

"Giving up 80 shots in two games is not going to work," Hagel said. "Good luck winning hockey games. We have to be a little better in all three areas of the zone. I don't think we were that good in the D-zone and we could've been better in the neutral zone."

Christian Dvorak gave Montreal a 2-1 lead at 12:34 when he got a stick on a shot from Kaiden Guhle to redirect it past Johansson.

Evans pushed Montreal's lead to 3-1 at 18:28, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush with a shot that beat Johansson to the short side.

"Honestly I think it's us coming in waves right now, I don't think it's one line, but it's the commitment to everybody understanding that the team is more important than the individual," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. "And they are sacrificing some action on the ice for the actions that actually help our team. And if you do that over and over, the individuals are benefitting from that as well."

Kucherov cut it to 3-2 at 18:54 when he tucked the puck in from close range after Montembeault failed to control Brayden Point’s shot.

Armia pushed the Canadiens lead to 4-2 at 12:32 of the third. Emil Heineman beat Mitchell Chaffee to a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated in alone before sliding the puck across to Armia for a one-timer.

Brendan Gallagher added an empty-net goal at 18:08 for the 5-2 final.

"We're making a lot of mature plays [in the third period]," Suzuki said. "Keeping it simple, not making anything too risky and taking advantage when we get those chances."

Lightning forward Jake Guentzel was a late scratch and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

"They played well defensively and they're a good team, they showed in Florida what they can do," Lightning captain Victor Hedman said. "We just have to learn from it and stop turning pucks over. We have some days here to get ready for a big road trip out west. Giving up five is unacceptable and we have to do a better job of helping out our goaltenders."

NOTES: Armia has points in five of the past six games (three goals, three assists). ... Hagel has nine points (four goals, five assists) over the past seven games. ... Kucherov has goals in three straight games. … Montreal's last win at Amalie Arena was April 2, 2022, a 5-4 shootout win.