Canadiens Roll Over Lightning

January 7, 1999 / 10:31 PM EST / AP

Shayne Corson scored a pair of power-play goals and Vladimir Malakhov collected four assists as the Montreal Canadiens rolled to their fifth win in six games, 4-1 over the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning.

Jeff Hackett had to make only 19 saves for the Canadiens, who extended their home unbeaten streak against the Lightning to seven games (6-0-1). Montreal has not lost to Tampa Bay at the Molson Centre since December 16th, 1996.

Corson opened and closed the scoring, getting the only goal of the first period at 5:48 and extending the Canadiens' lead to 4-1 with 4:59 left in the third period. In between, Sergei Zholtok and Patrick Poulin tallied for Montreal, which made a successful return from a 4-2 road trip.

"I shouldn't have played tonight, I've got bronchitis," Corson said. "I was lucky to score. I was able to get some good bounces. It made up for the other games when I got lots of chances but the puck wouldn't go in."

Zholtok's goal turned out to be the game-winner. He backhanded the puck over goaltender Bill Ranford, who stopped Poulin's shot but could not control the rebound with 2:42 remaining in the second period.

Poulin made it 3-1 just over seven minutes into the final period, getting his second goal in three games and sixth of the season. Tampa Bay's Benoit Hogue tried to clear the puck off his own goal line after a flurry of shots. But former teammate Malakhov took it away and sent a pass to Poulin, who scored from the doorstep.

"It feels good after that long road trip to come home, especially when we win the first home game in the new year," Malakhov said. "I had a good game and I hope the team regroups. I like to set up goals. I don't mind getting assists as long as the other guys score."

Corson finished things on the power play, chipping a rebound of Mark Recchi's shot over the goal line for his seventh of the season and second since December 5th.

Drew Bannister had the lone goal for the Lightning, who have lost three straight -- all on the road -- and own just one win in their last 10 games (1-8-1).

"We have a young defense that is going to make mistakes. I'm going to stick with the kids," said Tampa Bay coach Jacques Demers, who held the same post with Montreal from 1992-96. "(Petr) Svoboda and (Kjell) Samulesson put in a lot of time, they probably played half the game. I couldn't use them any longer.

"It kills us to lose, but I'm not going to move any of our draft picks, and I'm not going to fool around with the future of this team."

Montreal dominated the first period, outshooting Tampa Bay, 12-3, and taking the lead at 5:48 on Corson's power-play marker. Hogue was in the penalty box for interference when Corson got to Malakhov's rebound and backhanded past Ranford.

"Montreal had the jump on us all night and the results are on the scoreboard," a terse Ranford said.

Hackett was relatively untested until Bannister's wrist shot frm the top of the slot hit the knob of his goalie stick and deflected into the net. It was Bannister's first goal since January 4th, 1997.

Moments later, Tampa Bay's Rob Zamuner backhanded a shot from the right faceoff circle off the right goalpost.