Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan, right, congratulates goalie Ben Bishop after the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 during an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
April 01, 2014 - 7:59 PM
TAMPA, Fla. - Tyler Johnson scored the go-ahead goal on a short-handed breakaway late in the third period and the Tampa Bay Lightning clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
The win, and losses by New Jersey and Washington, gave Tampa Bay its first post-season berth since 2011 and only its second in seven years. The Canadiens also qualified for the post-season by virtue of the losses by New Jersey and Washington.
Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher was on one knee in the low slot when he redirected a rebound past goalie Ben Bishop to open the scoring 10:18 into the first period.
Ryan Callahan made it 1-1 on a power play 9:19 into the second, skating through the left circle toward Price and lifting a shot high into the net past Carey Price.
Alex Killorn added an empty-netter with 45 seconds left in the third period.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014