Lightning clinch Stanley Cup playoff berth with win over Canadiens

All of the dominoes fell the right way for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, making their 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens enough to clinch their second Stanley Cup playoff berth in seven seasons.

Tampa Bay received help from the Dallas Stars, who defeated the Washington Capitals, and the Buffalo Sabres, who downed the New Jersey Devils in a shootout.

The Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2011, only to fall to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in seven games.