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The Montreal Canadiens will try to take a commanding lead in their Eastern Conference first round series when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 on Friday night. The Canadiens won the opening tilt of the best-of-seven series on Wednesday, claiming a 5-4 victory on Dale Weises overtime tally. Its not surprising the game went beyond regulation considering the Atlantic Division foes saw three of their five regular-season meetings in 2013-14 enter OT. After dropping a wild one in the opener, the Lightning hope to even this set before it shifts to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. The third meeting is set for Sunday at the Bell Centre with Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday. Weise tallied with 1:52 remaining in overtime to give his club a leg up on Tampa in the series. An in-season trade acquisition for Montreal, Weise scored off a pretty backhand feed from linemate Daniel Briere to end the entertaining contest. The wrister from just below the right circle beat a hapless Anders Lindback on his stick side after Briere successfully held off Tampa Bay defenseman Eric Brewer behind the net to deliver a perfect pass. The goal marked the first postseason point for Weise, who was held off the scoresheet in each of his previous six playoff games with the Vancouver Canucks. Briere, meanwhile, notched his 110th career playoff point in his 109th game with the assist. "Its not an easy thing, the roller coaster of emotion youre going to feel in playoff games," Briere said. "Thats part of the experience factor, knowing to stay composed and stay focused" Brian Gionta and Lars Eller picked up a goal and assist each for the Canadiens, while Tomas Plekanec and Thomas Vanek also lit the lamp for the third-place team in the Atlantic Division. Carey Price earned the Game 1 victory despite stopping just 21-of-25 shots. "Its nice to come in and get one here but its still a long series and they have a great team," said Gionta. "It was back-and-forth and itll be no different the next game." Lightning star Steven Stamkos scored twice, including the game-tying goal with just over 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Nikita Kucherov and Alex Killorn also produced goals in the setback. Subbing for the injured Ben Bishop, Lindbacks first career NHL playoff start went well despite the loss, as the rangy Swede came up with 39 saves. "We didnt get the win so its tough to find positives," said Stamkos. "Five goals against is way too many in the playoffs. Hopefully now everyone has a taste of playoff hockey, they know what its all about." Lindback will be back in net on Friday for his second career playoff start. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he is hopeful Bishop could return in this series, but can only see that happening if it extends past four games. Tampa could be without Ondrej Palat, who left Game 1 in the third period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Palat has 23 goals and 36 assists in 81 games as a rookie this season and is one of the leading candidate for the Calder Trophy. On Thursday, Cooper said Palat will be a game-time decision for tonight. This is the second time the Canadiens and Lightning are meeting in the postseason, with the Tampa sweeping Montreal in four games in the Eastern Conference semifinals during its 2004 Stanley Cup championship season. Projected Canadiens Lines Pacioretty - Desharnais - VanekPrust - Plekanec - GallagherBourque - Eller - GiontaBournival - Brière - Weise Markov - EmelinGorges - SubbanBouillon - Weaver PriceBudaj Projected Lightning Lines Killorn - Stamkos - JohnsonPanik - Filppula - CallahanBrown - Thompson - PurcellPyatt - Paquette - Kucherov Hedman - SaloCarle - GudasBrewer - Kostka LindbackGudlevskis . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. . The 26-year-old Sobotka injured his left leg playing for the St. Louis Blues in a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The Blues said he would not recover from the injury in time for the Olympic tournament. . PETERSBURG, Fla. . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. . -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday.KREFELD, Germany -- Sam Soliman of Australia won the IBF middleweight title Saturday with a unanimous decision over Felix Sturm of Germany. Soliman was the more active fighter throughout the bout and kept coming at the champion throughout the 12 rounds. Sturm may have landed the bigger punches but there were too few of them. Soliman won withh a big margin on all three cards.dddddddddddd One judge had him the winner with a score of 117-111, the other two scored it 118-110. The Australian also won a decision against Sturm in February 2013 but the fight was later ruled a no contest, when Soliman tested positive for a banned stimulant. He was banned for nine months. ' ' '
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