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Canadiens edge Lightning in shootout

Dec 29, 2013 - 6:34 AM Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Lars Eller scored the winner in the shootout to lead the Montreal Canadiens in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Eller had the first attempt for Montreal and faked back to the forehand before snapping the puck past Ben Bishop. Carey Price then made stops on Nikita Kucherov and Teddy Purcell for the win.

"I tried to make a move lateral and get it high and get it in," said Eller. "If we keep practicing, and keep putting hard work into the games, we'll keep things going in the right direction."

Tomas Plekanec scored the only goal in regulation for the Canadiens, who have won three of four. Price stopped 23 shots in the win.

Martin St. Louis lit the lamp and Bishop made 20 stops for the Lightning, who had a season-high five-game winning streak stopped.

"We played a great third period, but had a couple of chances that just missed," said Bishop. "This game could have went either way tonight."

After a scoreless first period, the Canadiens took the initial lead in the game at the 5:15 mark of the second period.

Brian Gionta took the puck through the middle and skated over to his right before sending it to the front where Plekanec knocked in the bouncing puck for his 13th of the season.

Tampa, though, tied the game at 11:43 of the second as St. Louis used a quick shot to send home a rolling puck from the inside right circle for his 17th goal of the campaign.

Price was busy in the third, stopping 14 shots, while Bishop made six saves to send the game to overtime. There was just one shot between the two teams in overtime, with it coming from Tampa Bay.

Game Notes

Eller is 3-for-3 on shootout attempts this season ... Tampa host the Rangers on Sunday ... Montreal continues its six-game road trip in Florida on Sunday ... Tampa had taken a 2-1 shootout win in Montreal on Nov. 12.