nhl roundup Monday night’s games

Lightning 5, Canadiens 3

MONTREAL

Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop had two assists, Vladislav Namestnikov scored two goals, and the Lightning clinched an Eastern Conference playoff berth. Bishop started plays that set up breakaway goals by Namestnikov and Jonathan Drouin in the second period. Nikita Kucherov and Anton Stralman also scored for Tampa Bay, which trails Atlantic Division-leading Montreal by one point. The Lightning won all five games this season against the Canadiens, outscoring them 21-8. Montreal swept Tampa Bay in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Bishop, who made 25 saves, is the first goalie with two assists in a game since Buffalo’s Ryan Miller did it on Feb. 25, 2014. Max Pacioretty, Jeff Petry and P.K. Subban scored for Montreal, which was outshot 31-13 through two one-sided periods and 44-28 overall.

Canucks 4, Blues 1

ST. LOUIS

Radim Vrbata had a goal and assist, and Eddie Lack made 23 saves as Vancouver opened a four-game trip with a victory over struggling St. Louis. Zbynek Michalek scored for the Blues, who never led and missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a victory. St. Louis has lost two straight at home, has one win its last six games overall, and remained one point shy of a seventh 100-point season. Nick Bonino netted the go-ahead goal midway through the second period, just 31 seconds after the Blues tied it on Michalek’s first goal since Jan. 31. Shawn Matthias also scored for Vancouver, which strengthened its hold on second place in the Pacific Division.

Blackhawks 4, Kings 1

CHICAGO

Defensemen Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson scored 1:04 apart in the second period for Chicago. Marian Hossa added a goal and an assist as the Blackhawks won their second straight game in as many nights and pulled within a point of the second-place Blues in the Central Division. Chicago plays St. Louis twice in its final six games. Jake Muzzin scored for the defending champion Kings, who dropped their second straight in the finale of a five-game road trip. They also lost ground to Calgary in their bid for the final playoff berth in the West.

Associated Press