Ben Bishop is congratulated by teammate J.T. Brown following the Lightning’s elimination of the Canadiens. They’ll play the winner of the Caps and Rangers.
AP Photo by Chris O’Meara/Getty Images

The Lightning knew they needed to finally put away the Canadiens. After losing the last two games which allowed Montreal to get within 3-2 with a potential Game 7 at Bell Centre, the Bolts got it done tonight by ousting the Canadiens in Game 6 with a convincing 4-1 home win. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Final where they’ll await tomorrow’s Game 7 winner between the Caps and Rangers.

Nikita Kucherov scored twice and assisted on another for a three-point night. For the series, he torched the Canadiens for six goals including the empty netter with 2:01 left in regulation that sealed it. Entering the series, he didn’t have any goals. That wasn’t a problem for him in the second round with a big double overtime winner in Game 1 setting the tone.

For a second consecutive game, Tampa captain Steven Stamkos scored. He hadn’t been scoring but will take a two-game goal streak into his second Conference Final. He and Victor Hedman are the only holdovers from the ’11-12 Lightning who lost to eventual Stanley Cup champ Boston in seven. Along with a more talented group that features the league’s best second line with Tyler Johnson anchoring Palat and Kucherov, they’ll appear in the franchise’s third Conference Final. In 2004, the Lightning defeated the Flyers in seven and came back to beat the Flames in seven for their only Cup.

Already ahead 2-0 on tallies from Kucherov and Stamkos, Tampa Bay got a huge power play goal from Palat with 1:04 left in the second period. Anton Stralman started a great passing play with Kucherov finding Palat for a tap in past a helpless Carey Price that increased the Habs’ deficit to three. Price will sweep the Hart and Vezina at this year’s awards but he’d trade it for a Game 7 with a trip to the Final Four.

Unlike the last two games, the Habs were outplayed and outskated by a quicker bunch of Bolts intent on finishing the series. They were outshot 28-19 including 13-6 in the opening stanza. Lightning goalie Ben Bishop nearly had his second series clinching shutout. But Max Pacioretty was able to beat him with 4:57 left in regulation on a feed from Brendan Gallagher just as Montreal coach Michel Therrien pulled Price.

The Habs would send Price to the bench again a couple of minutes later but didn’t have the same success. Instead, a neutral zone turnover allowed Kucherov to salt it away with a snapshot from center ice ending their season.

As the final seconds ticked off, the Lightning congratulated Bishop. He finished with 18 saves while Price wound up with 24. Tampa was able to advance minus Ryan Callahan, who had an emergency appendectomy. Tampa coach Jon Cooper replaced him with forward Jonathan Marchessault. Cooper shifted Stamkos to right wing for a second straight game using Valtteri Filppula to center the top line with Alex Killorn. A smart move that resulted in Stamkos scoring again.

In their four wins during the series, the Lightning outscored the Canadiens 14-5. In their two losses, they were outscored 8-3. The overall total was 17-13 in favor of Tampa.

At the very least, the Conference Final won’t be a repeat of last year. The Western Conference Final features the Blackhawks against the Ducks. Chicago is making its third straight appearance. Anaheim is back in the Conference Final for the first time since 2007 when they won their only Cup. Anaheim, Chicago and Tampa will be joined by either the Rangers or Caps Wednesday.