Lightning strike as Canadiens downed in Stanley Cup opener
Ben Chiarot pulled a goal back for Montreal near the end of the second period.
MIAMI (AFP) - The Tampa Bay Lightning overpowered the Montreal Canadiens to launch their bid for back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with an emphatic 5-1 victory on Monday.
The 2020 champions dominated the underdog Canadiens with a clinical display at Tampa’s Amalie Arena to go 1-0 up in the best-of-seven series.
Erik Cernak put Tampa ahead in the first period before Yanni Gourde doubled the home side’s lead in the second.
Ben Chiarot pulled a goal back for Montreal near the end of the second period to give the visitors hope.
But strikes from Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos in the third period sealed a deserved victory for Tampa Bay.
Montreal are bidding to become the first team from Canada to lift the Stanley Cup for 28 years after a protracted National Hockey League championship drought for the hockey powerhouse.
The Canadiens’ preparations for the final had been disrupted by Covid-19, which deprived the upstart title hopefuls of right wing Joel Armia and coach Dominique Ducharme on Monday.
Armia, who has eight points in 17 games including five goals during the playoffs, did not travel to Florida for Monday’s clash.
Montreal have been the surprise package of the postseason after starting the playoffs as 500-1 rank outsiders.
However the Canadiens polished off a series of title contenders en route to the final, dispatching Toronto in the first round, Winnipeg in the second and Vegas in the semi-finals.
