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Lightning, Habs will play first back-to-back of the playoffs

Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens - Game Two

Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens - Game Two

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For the first time in these NHL playoffs, teams will play on back-to-back nights when the Lightning and Canadiens meet tonight, then again tomorrow, in Tampa Bay.

Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, who didn’t play full games on consecutive days once during the regular season, is trying to keep his focus on tonight’s game only.

“I’m not really worried about tomorrow,” Bishop said today, per ESPN.com. “Tonight’s kind of the main thing. We’ve played (three games in three days) in the minors and everything. I’m not too worried about it. Right now I’m just focused on tonight.”

The Lightning and Canadiens last met Sunday in Montreal. They were forced to play a back-to-back due to Amalie Arena being booked last night for a Nitro Circus event (which actually ended up being canceled).

Bishop saw action three times with zero days rest during the regular season (.868 save percentage). Twice he started games after appearing in a relief effort the day before; once he started on consecutive days, but was pulled early in the first game.

Montreal’s Carey Price started three back-to-backs during the regular season. He was not pulled in any of the six combined games, and his save percentage with zero days rest was an impressive .947.

Tampa Bay leads the series, 2-0.