The Lightning team achieved a 10-1-1 record in the last 12 games to lead the wild card race in the Eastern Conference.

Stamkos said, referring to Tampa's 4-1 win in Toronto, "That was a strong effort against back-to-back games." "Except for a little lapse in the third period, we outplayed them. They have some talented players, and that will happen. We told ourselves 12 or 15 games ago that we need to perform like this and keep it going."

NHL points leader Nikita Kucherov scored his 43rd goal of the season and added two assists as the Lightning (43-26-7) won.

Michael Eismont and Brandon Hagel scored the other Tampa Bay goals, while Joel Armia scored two goals for the Canadiens (29-34-12).

Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield also scored the other goals in the unsuccessful third period.

There were repeated shouts, and Slafkovsky said that was the result of the Canadiens trying to match the Lightning's intensity.

Slafkovsky said, "They are a divisional team, and I've said many times we want to play hockey in the playoffs, so we'll do all things and stuff." "That's what we're trying to improve, and I feel that the closer we get to the playoffs or even now, just building, the games will be intense and we want to fight and win the physical part of the game. And then obviously also win on the scoreboard."

Matt Tomkins, the 29-year-old who started his fourth NHL game, and first since November 7, saved 26 shots to secure the win.

Lightning coach John Cooper said, "Obviously he loves playing in this building." "When we lost (Andrei) Vasilevskiy for 25 games early in the season, people expected us to go out and get a goalie, but we trusted Tommy and (Jonas Johansson)."

He confirmed Kaiden Prime saved 28 shots in the loss.

The Canadiens also played most of the game with five defensemen. Kaiden Guhle left due to an upper-body injury early in the first period after being pushed into the end boards with a hard check from Kucherov.

Hagel also left the game with seven minutes remaining after an open-ice collision with teammate Stamkos, and Anthony Cirelli exited the game in the second period.

Cooper said, "This is the time of year when you don't take chances, and we removed those chances as a precaution."

Stamkos broke the 2-2 tie with his first goal at 7:58 of the second period, and Paul scored his second goal of the game, 74, keeping the Tampa Bay Lightning very hot as they approach the playoff point.

It is worth noting that Steven Stamkos and Nicolas Paul each scored two goals to lead Tampa Bay to a 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens.