Gallagher breaks 3rd-period tie, lifts Canadiens over Lightning 4-3

TAMPA, Fla. – Brendan Gallagher broke a tie with Montreal’s third goal of the third period, and the Eastern Conference-leading Canadiens rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on Saturday night.

The Canadiens pulled within 3-2 on Brian Gionta’s power-play goal 3:49 into the third, and Alexei Emelin tied it at 7:33. Gallagher then put the puck past Cedrick Desjardins from in-close to give Montreal a 4-3 lead with 7:57 to play.

Montreal also got a goal from Tomas Plekanec and two assists from Michael Ryder as the Canadiens won for the third time in a five-game trip that has one game remaining.

Steven Stamkos scored his 19th goal, and Martin St. Louis had two assists for the Lightning, who have lost seven of eight. Sami Salo and Ryan Malone had the other Tampa Bay goals.

Stamkos put the Lightning ahead 1-0 when the centre beat Carey Price from the slot off a pass from St. Louis at 5:30 of the second. St. Louis has seven assists and nine points during a six-game point steak.

After Plekanec scored 7:38 into the second, Salo gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 advantage just 37 seconds later. Malone made it 3-1 on a power-play redirection with 7:40 left in the second.

Desjardins, who made his third career start, won two games for the Lightning during the 2010-11 season, including a 4-1 victory over Montreal on Dec. 30, 2010.

NOTES: Desjardins, acquired from the Canadiens in a minor league trade on Feb. 14, was recalled from Syracuse of the AHL on Tuesday. … Montreal D Yannick Weber didn’t play because of a knee injury sustained Thursday during a 4-2 win at Carolina. … Tampa Bay G Mathieu Garon, out with a lower body injury, has resumed skating. … Canadiens D Greg Pateryn, recalled from Hamilton of the AHL on Thursday, made his NHL debut.