MONTREAL - Scott Gomez scored a goal and set up two others as the Montreal Canadiens downed the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Tuesday night for their fourth win in five games since the Olympic break.

Mathieu Darche, with two, Glen Metropolit and Benoit Pouliot also scored for Montreal (33-29-6) in the victory over one of the teams chasing them for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Steven Stamkos scored his 41st goal of the season and assisted on one by Martin St. Louis for Tampa Bay to extend his point streak to 17 straight games. It was also Stamkos' team-record 17th power-play goal of the season.

Matt Walker also scored for the Lightning (27-27-11), who have lost six of their last seven. Tampa Bay has the league's second worst road record at 9-19-5, better only than Edmonton's 8-21-2.

Gomez, a major off-season acquisition for Montreal, has two goals and six assists in his last four games and five goals and 10 assists in his last 11.

The Lightning were called for too many men on the ice only 1:49 into the game and it took only a minute for Montreal to open the scoring.

Plekanec Injured

The Canadiens' leading scorer, Tomas Plekanec, left the game with an apparent knee injury, however he returned in time to start the second period.

With just over three minutes remaining in the opening period, Plekanec appeared to be involved in a knee-on-knee collision with Lightning defenceman Mattias Ohlund after stepping over the blueline. Plekanec crumpled to the ice and had to be helped to the Habs bench. He then headed straight for the team's dressing room. There was no penalty called on the play.