WATCH ABOVE: The Montreal Canadiens are facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Global’s Rachel Lau is live at the Bell Centre.
MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens have had six opportunities, and they haven’t beaten the Tampa Bay Lightning this season.
When the Atlantic Division rivals meet next in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, the Canadiens will still bring plenty of confidence to their home ice.
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Their chances to score in Game 1 were plenty.
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They’re counting on many more Sunday.
“We’re around the net. We’re getting it toward the net. We’re doing everything right. It’s just not going in,” said right wing Devante Smith-Pelly, who was denied twice by Lightning goalie Ben Bishop in a 2-1 double- overtime loss.
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The Canadiens, who swept the Lightning in four games in the first round of the playoffs last year, went 0-5 against them during the regular season with Bishop, who made 43 saves in the opener on Friday night at the Bell Centre, in the net each time.
Thirteen of Bishop’s stops came after regulation.
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“We were well prepared to play that team,” Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said after practice on Saturday morning.
“That’s all you can ask.”
The Canadiens have four goals in their last four playoff games and have scored only 13 times since the start of the post-season, but they’re not the only ones in a slump.
Lightning star Steven Stamkos has not scored in nine games, including the regular season finale, for the longest such streak since his rookie year.
Stamkos called the first-round series against Detroit an “eye-opener,” reminding him the variety of ways beyond goals he can contribute, but for a guy who scored 43 times during the regular season the extended streak has been surprising.
READ MORE: Lightning score in second overtime to beat Canadiens 2-1
Nikita Kucherov took care of the winner in Game 1, 2:06 into the second overtime on a play that was clearly offside.
READ MORE: Tampa Bay Lightning defeat Detroit Red Wings 2-0 in Game 7
Tyler Johnson leads the NHL with seven post-season goals in just eight games.
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