LIGHTNING 2, CANADIENS 1: Adam Hall scored his first goal since the team's season opener to snap a tie and Mathieu Garon made 23 saves as Tampa Bay handed visiting Montreal its fifth straight loss.

Garon made several big stops - including a sprawling stick save on Ryan White in the second period - as the Lightning moved within five points of the eighth-place Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference.

Steven Stamkos scored his league-leading 44th goal in the first period.

Hall gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead just 28 seconds into the second period, chipping home a pass from Ryan Malone for his first goal in 46 games.

Montreal had a five-minute power-play chance in the second period when Malone went after Canadiens’ defenseman Alexei Emelin at 8:18. Malone, who had taken a late hit from Emelin earlier in the contest, received a game misconduct.

Montreal came up empty and went scoreless despite 8:58 of power-play time the first two periods.

David Desharnais tied the game at 1-1 with an unassisted goal for Montreal with 3:58 left in the first period.

Tampa Bay improved to 19-9-2 at home.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Fs Nate Thompson and Tim Wallace and D Brendan Mikkelson of the Lightning missed the game with the flu. ... Blake Geoffrion, who was born in Florida, made his Canadiens’ debut. He is the grandson of former Canadiens’ Hall of Famer Boom Boom Geoffrion ... Lightning F Teddy Purcell extended his point streak to seven games with an assist.