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Lightning come up big on offense, defense vs. Canadiens

Dec 31, 2006 - 6:11 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Even Vaclav Prospal decided to show up for the Tampa Bay Lightning's shooting gallery.

Prospal snapped a tie seven minutes into the second period with his first goal in 21 games, lifting the Lightning to a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, who were outshot by more than a three-to-one margin.

With three seasons of at least 20 goals under his belt, including a career-high 25 last campaign, Prospal has disappointed in 2006-07, entering Saturday with just three tallies in 38 games. However, the Czech found the net at just the right time for the Lightning in this one.

From along the end line under the left faceoff circle, Prospal fired a backhander that caromed off goaltender Cristobal Huet and into the net at the seven-minute mark of the middle session, giving Tampa Bay a 2-1 edge. It was Prospal's first tally since November 15, when he also scored against Montreal.

"It was a relief," Prospal said. "It's just a great feeling to score. I feel I'm a much better player than just scoring four goals in (39) games."

Brad Richards opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the first period and defenseman Filip Kuba closed it with another man-advantage tally seven minutes into the third. For Richards, it was his seventh power-play goal of the season, matching his career high.

Richards added an assist and blue-liner Dan Boyle set up two goals for the Lightning, who outshot the Canadiens, 23-3, in the first period and finished with a 41-13 advantage.

"The whole team played for 60 minutes, which was nice," Richards said. "We didn't just have one good period. We came out and did a lot of good things. They weren't all good scoring chances, but we threw the puck at the net."

"They just really outskated us tonight," Montreal captain Saku Koivu said. "Not a good performance by us."

Alexander Perezhogin scored and Huet made 38 saves for Montreal, which has lost three of four.

"I tried to help the team, but I'm never satisfied when we lose the game," Huet said. "You always think you can do something better."

"I don't know what it is," Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau said. "We play like this every time we play them. We just don't respond. I don't know if it's that we're tired or just not prepared for battle."

With 8:32 to go in the first period, Richards buried a rebound from the right side for his 14th tally of the season.

"That first goal was huge," Boyle said. "It set the tone for us."

Perezhogin forged a 1-1 tie at 2:07 of the second, firing a wrister from the slot into the top right corner of the net on Montreal's fourth shot of the game.

Kuba capped the scoring at 7:07 of the third, blasting a slap shot from the left point by Huet for his sixth of the season.