Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak makes a save against the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos Tuesday night. Christinne Muschi, Reuters
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AUDIO: Mathieu Darche | Jacques Martin | Jaro Spacek | Glen Metropolit | Scott Gomez
• At a Glance: Mathieu Darche has been a useful player for the Canadiens since being recalled from Hamilton and he continued to show why Tuesday night with a pair of goals in a 5-3 Montreal win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canadiens jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes on goals by Glen Metropolit and Scott Gomez, who finished the night with three points. Steven Stamkos made it 2-1 early in the second, but Benoit Pouliot quickly restored the two-goal lead and Darche scored the first of his two goals 7:33 into the second, chasing Antero Niittymaki from the Tampa Bay net. Matt Walker made it 4-2 midway through the second when his shot went off Travis Moen’s stick and deflected passed Jaroslav Halak. Darche’s second goal of the game, and his fifth of the season, came 3:26 into the third period, only moments after the end of a Canadiens power play. Martin St. Louis scored with 1:07 to play, but the Lightning could get no closer. Halak made 28 saves for the win, with Montreal going 1-for-2 on the power play while killing off three of four Tampa Bay man advantages. The Canadiens have won four of five games, and three straight, since returning from the Olympic break.
• Key Moments: Montreal killed off a Tampa Bay power play at the end of the second and start of the third before Darche gave the Canadiens a three-goal lead.
• What It Means: The Canadiens improve to 33-29-6 and 72 points, moving them two points ahead of the Boston Bruins, 4-3 losers in overtime to the Maple Leafs.
• What’s Next: The Edmonton Oilers are in town on Thursday and the Bruins visit Saturday to wrap up a short three-game homestand for the Canadiens.
Source: Habs Inside/Out – http://feeds.feedburner.com/habsinsideout
