TAMPA, Fla. – Nikolai Khabibulin and the Tampa Bay Lightning are making it look easy against the Montreal Canadiens.

Khabibulin stopped 26 shots to improve to 6-1 in the playoffs and Vincent Lecavalier scored two goals for the second straight game as the top-seeded Lightning beat the Canadiens 3-1 Sunday in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The victory was the fifth straight for the Lightning, giving them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Montreal.

Flyers 2, Maple Leafs 1

PHILADELPHIA – Robert Esche stole another game for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Esche made 26 saves and Alexei Zhamnov scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, helping the Flyers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 to take a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series is Wednesday night in Toronto.

The Flyers have never lost a best-of-seven series in which they won the first two games, going 16-0.

Despite getting captain Mats Sundin back, the Leafs couldn’t generate much offense, getting their only goal from enforcer Tie Domi.

Flyers tough guy Donald Brashear also scored.

Zhamnov put the Flyers ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal with 11:35 remaining. His shot from the side of the net trickled between goaltender Ed Belfour’s legs.