MONTREAL, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Andrei Kostitsyn snapped a tie and touched off a three-goal third period Thursday in boosting the Montreal Canadiens past Tampa Bay 6-3.
Michael Ryder scored twice for the Canadiens, who handed Tampa Bay its sixth consecutive setback. It is the third six-game losing streak of the season for the Lightning.
Kyle Chipchura, Chris Higgins and Alex Kovalev also scored for Montreal, which was coming off a six-game road trip in which it picked up eight points. Cristobal Huet earned the win by making 30 saves.
Kostitsyn broke up a 3-3 tie with a slap shot from just outside the left circle that got the best of Karri Romo.
Chipchura gave Montreal a two-goal lead with 8:59 to play and Ryder delivered his second goal of the game with 2:38 left.
