three. P.K. Subban chipping the puck through to Rene Bourque right from the opening faceoff. Bourque then scored what turned out to be the winner putting Montreal 3-1 in front. Game four saw the Lightning really give it a go late on. Clawing themselves back from 3-1 down to try and salvage something and try to spark an impossible looking series comeback only for Max Pacioretty to score a power play goal with 43 seconds left to send the Habs to round two for the first time since 2010. Stamkos, Killorn and Palat seemed to be the biggest danger to the Montreal net whilst Tampa's defense were kept busy as 16 of the 18 Montreal skaters recorded at least one point.
Game 1 - Tampa Bay 4-5 Montreal (OT) - GWG: Dale Weise (18:08 OT)
Game 2 - Tampa Bay 1-4 Montreal - GWG: Rene Bourque (10:35 2nd)
Game 3 - Montreal 3-2 Tampa Bay - GWG: Thomas Plekanec (05:43 3rd)
Game 4 - Montreal 4-3 Tampa Bay - GWG: Max Pacioretty (19:17 3rd)
Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs Montreal Canadiens (A3)
This series was all about momentum and boy did the Habs do all they could to take it from the Bolts. In game one the Lightning had two one goal leads and Montreal had two one goal leads, before playoff beast Danny Briere found an open Dale Weise in front of the net for the winner. Game two started shaky but Montreal jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd period. Tampa Bay were level for 11 seconds in game
VS
4
0
Game 1 - Pittsburgh 4-3 Columbus - GWG: Brandon Sutter (08:18 3rd)
Game 2 - Pittsburgh 3-4 Columbus (Double OT) - GWG: Matt Calvert (01:10 OT2)
Game 3 - Columbus 3-4 Pittsburgh - GWG: Jussi Jokinen (08:06 3rd)
Game 4 - Columbus 4-3 Pittsburgh (OT) - GWG: Nick Foligno (02:49 OT)
Game 5 - Pittsburgh 3-1 Columbus - GWG: Jussi Jokinen (06:16 3rd)
Game 6 - Columbus 3-4 Pittsburgh - GWG: Evgeni Malkin (15:22 2nd)
Penguins win series 4-2
Pittsburgh Penguins (M1) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (WC1)
Jussi Jokinen and Bradon Sutter emerged as the main danger to the Columbus Blue Jackets, combining for nine points as some criticized superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for having a quiet series. The Penguins showed their experience of playoff hockey as the Blue Jackets collapsed in game one and two, surrendering a crucial 3-1 lead in Pittsburgh twice. Many saw this as concern for the Penguins, the thinking being that a more battle hardened team would have eliminated the 2009 champions. Columbus found goal scoring in the form of Ryan Johansen, Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov. Jack Johnson also chipped in a considerable contribution as the team did their fans and city proud in their 2nd ever playoff appearance. Pittsburgh had a lapse in concentration in game six and almost let Columbus back in from 4-0 down but held out to meet the Rangers or Flyers in round two.
VS
4
2