National Hockey League

Lightning 4, Canadiens 0

Published Sep. 30, 2011 4:16 a.m. ET

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Steven Stamkos scored two goals in the first period and Dwayne Roloson made 24 saves to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-0 preseason victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

Brett Connolly also scored twice for Tampa Bay (3-2). Connolly, who was drafted sixth overall by the Lightning in 2010, has three goals and two assists in four games.

''He's worked extremely hard in the offseason and it's paying off,'' Stamkos said. ''His skating has really improved and he's making decision as hard as possible for management and the coaching staff on this team that he wants to stick here. He's given it his all and we're happy for him.''

Stamkos, who entered with three assists, got his first goal in four games when he scored off a rebound 3:47 into the game. He made it 2-0 at 11:51 with a one-timer past Peter Budaj off a feed from Martin St. Louis.

St. Louis got his second assist 16:43 into the second when Connolly made it 3-0 with his second goal in four games. Ryan Malone assisted on Connolly's power-play goal late in the third period in his preseason debut.

''(Connolly)'s making the adjustment every time we place him in a more difficult situation with added pressure,'' Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. ''If that progression continues, he may very well force our hand.''

Budaj stopped 29 shots for Montreal (1-6).

Chris Campoli played his first game with Montreal since signing a one-year, $1.75 million deal on Tuesday.

''It would have been nice to win the game,'' said the 27-year-old defenseman, who became an unrestricted free agent after the Chicago Blackhawks walked away from an arbitrator's settlement of $2.5 million in July. ''Unfortunately we've got a lot to work on as a team I felt supporting the puck tonight we could have done a better job. That's something that will come but we've got to work on some things.''

The teams play their final preseason game Saturday night when they meet again in Quebec City.

''We're getting the bus and we go there tonight,'' St. Louis said. ''I'm looking forward to playing there. It's a fun building to play in and the boys are pretty excited.''

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