MTL@TBL: Game 2 Recap

TAMPA - The Canadiens were dealt a 3-1 loss by the Lightning on Wednesday night at AMALIE Arena in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

SHOP: CHic Playoff Line
Montreal trails the series 2-0.
The Habs were hungry to redeem themselves after a disappointing showing in the series-opener earlier in the week.

As per usual, there was no shortage of support for Montreal in the Sunshine State.
Habs fans always travel far and wide to watch their beloved club in action.

Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme's players looked determined in the pre-game warmup.
Right-winger Brendan Gallagher's battle scars only further enhance his "warrior" status.

The Canadiens welcomed winger Joel Armia back into the lineup after missing Game 1 due to his late arrival in Tampa because of the NHL's COVID protocols.
The 28-year-old Finn replaced Jake Evans, returning alongside veterans Eric Staal and Corey Perry.

3,500 fans were in attendance at the Bell Centre to watch the team in action on the jumbotron.
The atmosphere was electric ahead of puck drop.

There were no goals to report in the first period.
Montreal was outshooting Tampa Bay 13-6 after 20 minutes.
Center Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring for the Lightning at the 6:40 mark of the second period.
The 23-year-old Etobicoke, ON native's point shot found a way through traffic and beat goaltender Carey Price.

It was Cirelli's fifth goal of the playoffs.
Forward Tyler Johnson and defenseman Jan Rutta assisted on the tally.
The Canadiens tied things up 1-1 just four minutes later on the power play courtesy of center Nick Suzuki.
The 21-year-old London, ON native fired a relatively innocent-looking backhander towards the net that got the best of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, whose view was being slightly obstructed by Perry.

It was Suzuki's team-leading sixth goal of the playoffs.
The marker was unassisted.
And the Bell Centre faithful erupted in celebration.

Unfortunately, the Lightning struck back with only 0.3 seconds left in the stanza, capitalizing on a turnover in the neutral zone to make it 2-1.
Winger Barclay Goodrow fed a streaking Blake Coleman, who made no mistake on the finish with an outstanding individual effort.

It was Coleman's second goal of the playoffs.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh collected the secondary helper on the sequence.
The Canadiens were outshooting the Lightning by a 29-13 margin after 40 minutes.
Winger Ondrej Palat put Tampa Bay up by a pair with 4:18 remaining in regulation.
Palat capitalized on a turnover by defenseman Joel Edmundson behind the Canadiens' net and beat a helpless Price for his fifth goal of the postseason.

The goal was unassisted.
That's the way this one finished.
Price made 20 saves in the loss.
Game 3 of the series will be played on Friday night at the Bell Centre.
Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.