Canadiens 3, Lightning 2: Captain Brian Gionta scored his second goal of the game with 47 seconds remaining in the third period as Montreal edged visiting Tampa Bay.

With the Canadiens on the power play, Gionta went to the net and chipped in the puck from near the left post after defenseman Yannick Weber’s shot attempt went wide and caromed off the end boards. Rookie Alex Galchenyuk also scored and Carey Price made 32 saves for Montreal, which moved two points ahead of idle Boston for first place in the Northeast Division.

Rookie Richard Panik and captain Vincent Lecavalier scored while defenseman Victor Hedman added two assists for Tampa Bay, which officially was eliminated from playoff contention. Ben Bishop turned aside 32 shots for the Lightning, who killed off three penalties in the third period before the deciding tally.

After a scoreless first period in which Tampa Bay hit three posts, Galchenyuk won a battle in the crease to knock in a loose puck 4:04 into the second. Ryan Malone’s turnover allowed Montreal to double the lead as Gionta tipped in Tomas Plekanec’s pass with 4:55 left in the period.

Panik scored his fifth goal on the power play to halve the deficit, getting to Hedman’s pass in front and flipping the puck over Price 2:31 after Gionta’s first tally. Lecavalier buried a rebound from alone at the left side of the net 5:07 into the third to forge a tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Galchenyuk has scored six goals in his last eight games. … The Lightning have not won at Montreal since October 2010, losing in their last four trips to the Bell Centre. … Lightning D Sami Salo suffered an upper-body injury early in the second period and did not return.