Stamkos leads Lightning rout of Pens

Nathan Horton scored at 9:03 of the second overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens last night and a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Montreal goalie Carey Price stopped Andrew Ference's wrist shot from 30 feet but couldn't control the rebound. Horton then put his second goal of the playoffs into the open right side of the net.

It was Boston's second overtime win in three days, including a 5-4 victory on Thursday night. It also was the first win by the home team in the series.

The Bruins, who have won three straight games, can end the series in Game 6 on Tuesday night in Montreal.

In Game 4, also in Montreal, Michael Ryder scored at 1:59 of overtime after the Bruins overcame leads of 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3.

On Saturday, Boston's Tim Thomas made a brilliant save at 5:35 of the second overtime on a 2-on-1 Montreal break. Travis Moen passed from the left side across the slot to Brian Gionta, and Thomas slid across the crease to turn aside Gionta's shot from 5 feet.

Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher was convinced it was just a matter of time before Steven Stamkos became a dynamic offensive force in the NHL playoffs.

His postseason coming-out party arrived just in time to keep the Lightning alive in their first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Stamkos scored his first two NHL playoff goals and the Lightning emphatically avoided elimination with an 8-2 victory over the Penguins in Pittsburgh Saturday in Game 5 of the first-round series.

"This kid has figured out what the playoffs are all about," Boucher said. "I knew at some point he would because he's got character. I was just hoping it was this year."

The Penguins, who lead the series 3-2, will get a second chance to advance Monday night at Tampa Bay.

Stamkos' 96 goals in the past two seasons led the NHL, but he had only one assist over the first four games of the series. He had three points Saturday.

Winning goalie Dwayne Roloson, the former Islander, made 31 saves, including several impressive stops in the opening minutes when Pittsburgh controlled play.

Pominville hurt, out

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said that the Sabres will be without their top two-way forward Jason Pominville for Sunday's Game 6 against the Flyers. Pominville was hurt in the first period of a 4-3 overtime win Friday, when he limped off after appearing to be cut just below the left calf after colliding with Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk. -- AP