Habs defeat Lightning.

The Montreal Canadiens started the year 2008 with a win in front of their fans as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning by the score of 6-3 yesterday.

Alex Kovalev and Chris Higgins opened the score for the Canadiens who went to the lockeroom after the first period up by 2-0.

In the second period, we saw Tampa play much better. Vincent Lecavalier scored only 49 seconds into the second period. Then Michael Ryder scored his first goal at the Bell centre this season to give back Montreal a two goals lead. But before the second period was over, Martin St-Louis and Vaclav Prospal scored inside a two minute span to tie the game up at 3-3 before heading into the third period.

The third period made the difference for the Habs as they scored 3 unanswered goals. First, Andrei Kostitsyn scored his 10th goal of the season, followed by Kyle Chipchura and finally Michael Ryder scored the last goal of the game, his second of the evening. Ryder seems to have finally snapped his bad streak. The winger scored twice and added an assist yesterday.

Montreal will host the Washington Capitals on saturday afternoon.

(Picture: Michael Ryder and Alex Kovalev, Canadian Press.)