NEW YORK: Dale Weise scored the game-winning goal 18:08 into overtime as the Montreal Canadiens beat Tampa Bay in Game One of their first-round play-off series.
Montreal twice led in the third period but could not shake the Lightning in the thrilling opener.
Game Two of the best-of-seven series is set to be played today.
Steven Stamkos scored two goals for the Lightning, including the one that tied it 4-4 at 13:27 in the third period.
Neither team ever led by more than one goal, though the visiting Canadiens were the aggressors as they outshot Tampa Bay 44-25.
Lightning goaltender Anders Lindback made 39 saves.
Elsewhere, Brandon Sutter’s goal with 11:42 remaining capped a rally from a two-goal deficit as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first game of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
The Blue Jackets were looking for their first play-off win in the franchise’s 14-year history, but lost to Pittsburgh for the sixth time this season.
The second game of the best-of-seven series will be played tomorrow in Pittsburgh.
Jack Johnson and Mark Letestu scored in the first period for Columbus before Derek MacKenzie gave the visitors a 3-1 edge in the second.
Pittsburgh equalised on second-period goals by Beau Bennett and Matt Niskanen.
Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was benched in the play-offs last season, made 30 saves.
The Anaheim Ducks narrowly avoided blowing a four-goal lead to hang on for a tense victory over the Dallas Stars in the first game of their Western Conference playoff series.
Ryan Getzlaf, who was hit in the face by the puck late in the game, and Matt Beleskey both scored a goal and had an assist for the Ducks who held a 4-0 lead midway through the second period.
Dallas then scored twice in the second period of their tense game before Tyler Seguin cut the deficit to 4-3 with 6:07 remaining, but the Stars were unable to send it into overtime.
Anaheim rookie goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 32 shots, while Stars netminder Kari Lehtonen finished with 31 saves.
Game Two is today. AFP
