TAMPA, Fla. -- Having completed their regular-season series, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens soon could find themselves battling in the post-season. Tyler Johnson scored the go-ahead goal on a short-handed breakaway late in the third period and the Lightning clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over the Canadiens on Tuesday night. "Just being in the right spot and getting lucky sometimes," Johnson said. The win and losses by New Jersey and Washington gave Tampa Bay its first post-season berth since 2011 and only its second in seven years. Montreal ended a five-game winning streak, but also qualified for the post-season by virtue of the losses by New Jersey and Washington. Canadiens goalie Carey Price took some consolation in advancing to the post-season. "Were disappointed with our game today, but big picture, weve got to be happy with that," he said. The win moved Tampa Bay, with a game in hand, into a second-place tie with Montreal in the Atlantic Division. The second- and third-place teams in each division will meet in the first round of the playoffs. "Its just one game, but its really the 76 games all bottled into one," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "What you are really striving for is to win the Stanley Cup, but you cannot win the Cup if you dont get into the playoffs." With teammate Nate Thompson serving a minor penalty for boarding, Johnson picked up a loose puck near the Montreal blue line, skated in on Price and backhanded a shot inside the left post with 7:19 remaining in the game. Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher was on one knee in the low slot when he redirected a rebound past goalie Ben Bishop to open the scoring 10:18 into the first period. Ryan Callahan made it 1-1 on a power play 9:19 into the second, skating through the left circle toward Price and lifting a shot high into the net. Tampa Bay was on a power play when Alex Killorn closed out the scoring with an empty-netter with 45 seconds left in the third period. Bishop finished with 25 saves, while Price stopped 30 shots. Tampa Bay winger Teddy Purcell slammed a shot past Price with 11.7 seconds left in the second period, but the officials ruled forward J.T. Brown made contact with the goaltender and disallowed the goal. The call drew an angry response from Tampa Bay fans after a replay appeared on the video screen. The crowd also became irate when Montreals Douglas Murray drew a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of fellow defenceman Michael Kostka, setting up a 5-on-3 advantage for the Lightning with 2:13 left in the game. "If the crowds reaction was anything after they saw it, then it seems that it was illegal," Cooper said. "Those are the hits you want to take out of the game. Im sure Murray wasnt looking to hit him in the head." Lightning forward Ondrej Palat, who earlier in the day was named the top NHL rookie for the second time in three months, assisted on the goals by Callahan and Killorn. NOTES: Tampa Bay C Valtteri Filppula, who came in with the longest points streak in the league at 12 games, came up empty. . Montreal C Tomas Plekanec returned after missing one game for personal reasons. . The home team won for the first time in the four-game season series. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was sidelined with a broken leg for the first three games, each of which went to overtime tied at 1. . Price came in victorious in nine of his 10 previous starts. Bishop improved to 8-1-1 in his last 10. David Ross Cubs Jersey . He says he will have the operation Wednesday and be ready in time for training camp in September. Bernier missed five games in March due to the injury. Ben Zobrist Jersey . Auld made 37 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. It was Ottawas first game without starter Anderson, who is out indefinitely after cutting his hand Wednesday night, and it was evident the team wasnt sure how to deal with the change in goal. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Albe...ids-Jersey/.com) - Avery Bradley scored 21 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets, 89-81. Greg Maddux Cubs Jersey .com) - James Harden had 32 points, including a tying layup late in regulation, and the Houston Rockets scored eight of their 13 points in overtime at the foul line to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-111 on Friday night. Brad Brach Cubs Jersey .C. - Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek says guard Goran Dragic will return to the starting lineup against the Charlotte Hornets after missing the last two games with a strained back.JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Bismarck du Plessis was recalled as expected by South Africa on Wednesday to start against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship decider at Ellis Park this weekend. Du Plessis, who was sent off in the loss to the All Blacks in Auckland, was one of two definite changes to the run-on team, with Juandre Kurger also in for suspended lock Flip van der Merwe for Saturdays showdown against the world and southern hemisphere champion. New Zealand is favourite to take the title, and can win a 12th crown in 18 seasons with a losing bonus point. The Springboks must win with at least four tries and deny the All Blacks any losing bonus points to win the title for the first time since 2009. New Zealand has conceded only six tries in five games in the championship. Coach Heyneke Meyer said centre JJ Engelbrecht was a doubt for the last-round match and young Jan Serfontein will start his first test if Engelbrecht doesnt recover from a thigh injury. Uncapped lock Franco van der Merwe was picked on the bench and will probably make his test debut at his home ground in Johannesburg. Prop Tendai Mtawarira plays his 50th test, South Africas latest front-rower to reach the mark this season after the Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie, earlier in the competition. Meyer said he wanted "Bismarck to be Bismarck" on his return and give the Springboks a physical edge against a New Zealand team that has won five from five and is in line for a perfect Rugby Championship. Engelbrechts possible absence in the backline wiith a bruised thigh muscle may be a more important factor for South Africa, which must show attacking initiative and score four tries against the All Blacks for the first time since 2004, and shut down the worlds best attacking team, to come from behind and take the title.dddddddddddd Smiling, Meyer repeatedly said at Wednesdays news conference at the team hotel that he had not promised his team would score four tries, a comment that might be seen as mind games. A prized victory over New Zealand might be enough for South Africa. "Were just going to play positive," Meyer said. "Obviously you have to believe." Should Engelbrecht not prove his fitness by South Africas light training run at Ellis Park on Friday, Serfontein would wear the No. 13 jersey outside captain Jean de Villiers, Meyer said. The coach rates the 20-year-old Serfontein highly after he captained South Africa to victory in the 2012 Junior World Cup, beating New Zealand in the final. "Im really confident with Jan. I think hes going to be one of South Africas greats," Meyer said. ------ South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux, JJ Engelbrecht or Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Franco van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein or Juan de Jongh. ' ' '