CANADIENS 5, LIGHTNING 2: Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole each recorded two goals as Montreal defeated visiting Tampa Bay to snap a four-game losing streak.

Pacioretty, who had gone 11 games without a goal, also had an assist. Cole increased his career-high total to 34.

Tomas Plekanec and David Desharnais added two assists apiece for the Canadiens.

Peter Budaj made 14 saves for his fourth victory of the season and contributed his third assist in 15 games.

Defenseman Alexei Emelin gave Montreal an early lead at 2:11 of the first, going to the net to knock home a loose puck. Vincent Lecavalier answered at 7:26, intercepting a pass from Budaj and depositing the puck in an empty net for his 22nd goal.

Montreal capitalized on a poor line change by the Lightning to convert on an odd-man rush as Desharnais fed Cole for a one-timer 1:42 into the second. Cole deflected Plekanec’s shot past Lightning goalie Sebastien Caron at 14:34 on the power play to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead.

Bruno Gervais pulled the Lightning within 3-2 when his shot in close was blocked by Budaj, but the puck went in off Canadiens forward Brad Staubitz at 3:42 of the third. But Pacioretty answered 2:16 later on a rebound.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Gervais leads Lightning defensemen with six goals. …Forward Gabriel Dumont made his NHL debut for the Canadiens. … The teams split four games, each winning a pair at home. … Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman increased his point streak to five games with an assist.