P.A. Parenteau wired a slapshot from deep in the slot high up on Ben Bishop's glove side to give the Canadiens a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal Saturday.
Parenteau's 102 km/h shot flew over Bishop's glove into the top corner leading the home crowd into euphoria after the Lightning had tied the score six minutes earlier. P.K. Subban beat a pair of LIghtning players at the blueline to feed Parenteau, left unmarked in front of Bishop.
The teams traded goals before Parenteau's winning goal.
"We dominated for a lot of the game and the Stamkos goal could have deflated us but we didn't get discouraged," said Parenteau of the disappointment of seeing the lead disappear in the third period. "We had a lot of chances to score. Bishop was great, as was Carey Price."
Price made several key stops to keep Montreal in the game and Parenteau gave him some familiar praise. "Price is our leader, our best player. We're used to him making saves like those."
Devante Smith-Pelly's rising wrist shot from the left circle gave the Montreal Canadiens a lead in the first period but sniper Steve Stamkos scored mdiway through the third period to even things at 1-1.
Montreal Canadiens right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (21) celebrates with teammates Torrey Mitchell, left, and Jacob De La Rose, right, after scoring the first goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during first period of Game 5 NHL second round playoff hockey action Saturday, May 9, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Stamkos leaped on an errant puck sitting in the crease to bang it into the net past a sprawled-out Carey Price.
The Habs had the lead up to then thanks to Devante Smith-Pelly's first goal of the playoffs.
The rugged winger's quick, hard shot at 9:01 of the first bounced loudly off the metal in the net behind Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop and bounced out, leading some to think the shot hit the goalpost. But celebration followed the confusion and the goal at 9:01 of the first period held up as the only marker in the first two frames.
Tampa's best chance came from 36-year-old Brenden Morrow, whose low shot from the slot slid into Carey Price's extended right pad.
Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price deflects a Tampa Bay Lightning shot during first period of Game 5 NHL Stanley Cup second round playoff hockey action Saturday, May 9, 2015 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
"I wish I had settled it down and hit the corner," Morrow said in a televised interview between periods. "I wanted to get it on net pretty quick because when Price is set he's pretty hard to beat."
After the game Subban credited Parenteau for the shot off of his pass. "He found a way to finish. That's a big goal for us," said Subban.
But he noted that the win was only one of the needed four. "In my opinion we haven’t accomplished anything yet. Our goal is to keep playing, they’re still up 3-2 and we have an opportunity to bring it back here for Game Seven."
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop makes a save off Montreal Canadiens' Dale Weise during first period of Game 5 NHL Stanley Cup second round playoff hockey action Saturday, May 9, 2015 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Montreal Canadiens' Coach Michel Therrien said that he knows the pressure Tampa is feeling now, as the Canadiens were in an identical situation in their last series against Ottawa, losing two straight after winning the first three.
"Momentum is on our side. The players believe," said Therrien. "We’re going to do everything we can to force game seven in Montreal that’s for sure."
Therrien had kind words for the line of Lars Eller, Brandon Prust and particularly Devante Smith-Pelly. "Devo set the tone early in the game. He’s was really physical. He is a tough guy to play against and he scored the goal."
Tampa Coach Jon Cooper said that he was happy with Ben Bishop's work in the Tampa net after being pulled in the 6-2 loss in Tampa.
"Those are two pretty good shots. Smith-Pelly's was under the bar and Parenteau's was right off the stick. There were three goals tonight and I think the goalies had no chance on any of them."
The Canadiens outshot the Lightning 29-24. Game Six takes place Tuesday in Tampa.
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Canadiens 2, Lightning 1
First Period
1. Montreal, Smith-Pelly 1 (Mitchell, Petry) 9:01.
Penalties -- Johnson TB (Embellishment) 0:16, Petry Mtl (hooking) 0:16.
Second Period
No Scoring.
Penalties -- Hedman TB (roughing) 1:49, Parenteau Mtl (goaltender interference) 1:49, Nesterov TB (interference) 3:38, Sustr TB (roughing) 16:12.
Third Period
2. Tampa Bay, Stamkos 2 (Stralman, Killorn) 9:27.
3. Montreal, Parenteau 1 (Subban) 15:53.
Penalties -- Sustr TB (high-sticking) 10:56.
Shots on goal by
Tampa Bay 9 6 10 -- 25
Montreal 10 10 9 -- 29
Power plays (goal-chances)Tampa Bay: 0-0; Montreal: 0-3. at Montreal.
