Tampa, United States: Steven Stamkos scored three goals and Victor Hedman had a career-high four points as the Tampa Bay Lightning routed the Montreal Canadiens 7-1 on Monday night.
After Stamkos scored on a breakaway from a pass from deep in the defensive zone by Hedman at 13:15 of the second period, the Lightning captain completed the hat-trick from the top of the right circle for Tampa Bay’s sixth power-play goal this season. That made it 4-1 with 1:46 left in the middle period.
Hedman finished with a goal and three assists. Ryan Callahan, Ondrej Palat and Vladislav Namestnikov had the other Tampa Bay goals.
Stamkos tied Martin St Louis for the team record with eight career hat-tricks.
Brendan Gallagher scored for the Canadiens, who went 3-1 on a season-opening road trip.
It was the first game between the teams since Montreal completed a first-round play-off sweep last April.
Hedman scored in his third consecutive game to put the Lightning up 1-0 with a backhander from the slot that eluded Carey Price 5:24 into the game. It is the defenseman’s longest career goal streak.
Stamkos made it 2-0 on the power play at 9:51 of the first.
Gallagher cut Montreal’s deficit to 2-1 on a nifty redirection with 7:44 left in the first.
After Ben Bishop made the initial save, Lightning defenceman Anton Stralman slid through the crease to stop Jiri Sekac’s rebound try early in the second.
Price was pulled after allowing four goals on 23 shots through two periods.
Callahan and Palat scored 17 seconds apart in the third against Dustin Tokarski. Namestnikov got his first NHL goal late in the period.
Tampa Bay outshot Montreal 18-1 in the third and 41-17 for the game.
