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Canadiens push Lightning to brink of elimination with 3-2 win

Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens - Game Three

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 20: Ondrej Palat #18 of the Tampa Bay Lightning falls in a full somersault as P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens stickhandles the puck behind the net in Game Three of the First Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 20, 2014 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ondrej Palat;P.K. Subban

Andre Ringuette

One can debate whether the Tampa Bay Lightning are victims of bad luck, but there’s no denying that their season is now on the line. The Montreal Canadiens won Game 3 by a score of 3-2 on Sunday, giving themselves a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.

It looked like Anders Lindback would be an albatross in this one, as Rene Bourque (who had an excellent game overall) scored 11 seconds in:

As it turns out, Lindback was often excellent on Sunday, but his adamant effort wasn’t enough tonight.

Speaking of admirable hard work still falling short, Steven Stamkos shook off a scary spill in the second period to play - and even generate an assist - in the final frame. He finished the night with helpers on both Lightning goals. Here’s one more look at that scary fall:

It’s easy to gravitate toward the Lightning’s lousy luck, especially considering this disallowed goal:

Still, that takes a lot of the deserved credit from the Habs, who are one win away from some rest and a sweep. P.K. Subban stood out along with Bourque, dazzling with this assist on Brendan Gallagher’s goal:

Tomas Plekanec ended up notching the game-winner with an assist from Gallagher.

For all the adversity the Lightning have fought off in the regular season, they now need to win four games in a row to avoid a first-round exit. The odds certainly look long right now - especially if Stamkos can’t play once the adrenaline wears off - as they’ll attempt to salvage their season beginning with Game 4 on Tuesday.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins