Suzuki scores in SO, Canadiens beat Lightning

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nick Suzuki scored in the shootout, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 on Saturday night.

Suzuki beat Brian Elliott on a nifty backhander in the third round as Montreal won for the fourth time in 13 games (4-5-4).

Cole Caufield, Corey Schueneman, Josh Anderson and Jesse Ylonen scored in regulation for Montreal, and Jake Allen stopped 37 shots.

“We talk about being process driven, not so much result driven, and I think the result will just come along,” Canadiens interim coach Martin St. Louis said. “Just focus on the process, and I think we've done a good job of that tonight.”

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists, and Steven Stamkos, Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point also scored for the Lightning. Elliott made 27 saves as the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions had a four-game winning streak end.

“Mentally, a lot of really bad mental mistakes,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. “We've got to fight through that, It's a tough league, and anybody can beat anybody.”

Ylonen knotted it at 4 from the left circle at 2:18 of the third.

After Stamkos opened the scoring 8:57 into the game, Cirelli made it 2-0 at 13:32 of the first with a short-handed goal. It was the 10th short-handed score allowed by the Canadiens, who have the NHL’s second-worst power play.

The teams then combined for seven goals over the final 11:03 of the second period.

Caufield scored during a 2-on-none at 8:57 but Kucherov’s power-play goal made it 3-1 with with 8:26 to go in the period.

It was Kucherov’s second goal in his last 16 games, but the right wing has 15 assists over the stretch.

Goals by Schueneman and Anderson helped Montreal rally for the second time from a two-goal deficit. Anderson tied it