TAMPA, Florida: Center Tyler Johnson scored with 1.1 seconds left in regulation as the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 to take a 3-0 stranglehold on the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night.

Johnson broke the deadlock in a game that looked destined for overtime with his eighth goal of the playoffs, taking a centering pass in front of the net and pushing it past Montreal goaltender Carey Price.

Lightning goalie Ben Bishop carried a shutout well into the third period but Montreal tied the game when right winger Brendan Gallagher, diving to the net, pushed a rebound under his pad to tie the game at 1-1 with 9:57 left.

Lightning center Alex Killorn had scored a first-period goal to give Tampa the early advantage.

With eight minutes left in the opening period, Killorn was set up with a strong entry pass from Lightning center Steven Stamkos, who picked up his sixth assist.

Tampa Bay, winners of five straight in the playoffs, can finish the series with a win at home on Thursday night.

The Canadiens had more scoring opportunities through two periods, outshooting the Lightning 8-6 in the opening period and holding them without a shot for the first 12 minutes of the second.

In Washington, Rookie Andre Burakovsky scored his first two playoff goals and Braden Holtby saved a penalty shot, giving the Washington Capitals a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Burakovsky tied the game in the second period, then put Washington ahead 24 seconds into the third.

With 12 minutes left in regulation, Holtby — who finished with 28 saves — flicked his glove to catch Carl Hagelin’s penalty shot and preserve the lead.

The Capitals can close out the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers in the best-of-seven series and advance to the conference finals for the first time in Alex Ovechkin’s career by taking Game 5 in New York on Friday night.

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