TAMPA — With a chance to sweep their way into the Eastern Conference Final, the Lightning instead put away the brooms and packed their bags.
They are headed back to Montreal.
Tampa Bay dropped Game 4 of the semifinal series against the Canadiens 6-2 in front of an announced sell out crowd of 19,204 at Amalie Arena hoping to see a series-clinching victory.
But it was Montreal that provided a statement, shrugging off a last-second loss the night before and jumping on the Lightning early and sending Ben Bishop to the bench early in the second period after allowing three goals on 14 shots.