It was a short trip to Amalie Arena from the BB&T Center where the Montreal Canadiens had played less than two days earlier. The Habs were hoping to put a 5-0 result versus the Florida Panthers behind them with a better outcome in the home building of the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
Noah Juulsen nearly got things started on a positive note soon after the opening faceoff, jumping up into the slot to get a shot but not getting a goal.
With the Habs on a power play moments later, the team was able to break through to score the opening goal, as Charles Hudon found Artturi Lehkonen on the opposite side of the ice, with the Finn blasting a one-timer past Louis Domingue, who was still in the act of sliding across after the pass.