Lightning 4, Canadiens 2: Steven Stamkos collected two goals and an assist and defenseman Victor Hedman had one of each as host Tampa Bay defeated Montreal for the fourth time in as many meetings this season.

Valtteri Filppula scored on the power play to snap a 15-game goal drought for the Lightning, who have outscored the Canadiens by a 16-5 margin to pull even in points with their rivals atop the Atlantic Division. Ben Bishop finished with 32 saves to improve to 9-1-2 against Montreal.

Tomas Plekanec scored a power-play goal and set up PA Parenteau's tally for the Canadiens, who have played one fewer game than Tampa Bay. Carey Price turned aside 30 shots to fall to 0-4-2 in his last six meetings with the Lightning.

Filppula drew first blood midway into the first period, wiring a shot from the right circle that caromed off Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov and past Price for his first goal since Feb. 8. Max Pacioretty's attempted blind pass in the neutral zone to a trailing defenseman sailed inside the blue line to Stamkos, who accepted the gift and blasted a shot past Price with 4:02 left in the session.

Alex Killorn's saucer pass allowed Hedman to split the defense and skate in and beat Price at 2:45 of the second period before Plekanec's attempted centering feed caromed off the heel of Bishop's stick at 11:10. Parenteau trimmed the deficit 34 seconds into the third after Bishop misplayed the puck, but Stamkos sealed the win by scoring into the empty net for his team-leading 39th goal.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Montreal RW Brandon Prust celebrated his 31st birthday by skating into Bishop behind the net during the second period, causing four Tampa Bay players to jump into the fray. Prust was whistled for a goalkeeper interference penalty. ... Plekanec's goal was his 197th of his career, tying Larry Robinson for 23rd place on the Canadiens' all-time list. ... Montreal D Alexei Emelin logged 19:12 of ice time in his return to the ice after being sidelined with a shoulder injury since Feb. 18. ... Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria was in attendance at Amalie Arena.