Plekanec, Price lead Montreal Canadiens to 3-0 series lead over Tampa Bay

MONTREAL – Tomas Plekanec scored the eventual winner 5:43 into the third period, and Carey Price made 27 saves to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning and a three-game lead in their best-of-seven playoff series on Sunday.

Rene Bourque scored 11 seconds into the game, and Brendan Gallagher broke a 1-1 tie 18:10 into the second period. P.K. Subban had two assists for the Canadiens, who won the first two contests of the series in Tampa, Fla.

Ondrej Palat scored a power-play goal for the Lightning to tie the game at a goal apiece midway through the second period, and Matthew Carle scored 11:36 into the third to give the Lightning hope for a comeback. Steven Stamkos assisted on both goals.

Tampa Bay had a goal waived off in the second period after referees ruled goaltender interference on Alex Killorn.

Stamkos left the game in the second period after taking a knee to the back of the head, but the Lightning captain returned to the ice early in the third.

Anders Lindback stopped 28 shots for Tampa Bay.