MONTREAL -- P.K. Subban has picked the right time of the year to go on an offensive tear. The 2013 Norris Trophy winner had his third straight two-point game with a goal and an assist as the Montreal Canadiens held off the Boston Bruins for a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night to take the lead in their NHL Eastern Conference playoff series. Montreal leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game 4 slated for Thursday night at the Bell Centre. "Were playing well as a team," said Subban, who has 11 points in seven post-season games. "Im just the beneficiary of the guys playing well around me, supporting me. "It starts in goal. Well, it actually starts with our coaching staff and making sure everybody is feeling confident. Were doing it together. It starts with Pricey. From our defence to our forwards. Were sticking together. When we had adversity, were sticking together doing the right things. "Its fun to play on teams where you know guys are going to support you." Lars Eller and fourth-line digger Dale Weise also had a goal and an assist each and Tomas Plekanec scored Montreals other goal. Patrice Bergeron and Andrej Meszaros scored for the Bruins. Subban became the third Canadiens defencemen to have three consecutive games of more than one point in the playoffs, after Larry Robinson in 1978 and 1987 and J.C. Tremblay in 1971. Robinsons 1978 streak stretched to five games. While Montreal has the lead in the series and has wrestled home-ice advantage from the Bruins, the series between the long-time rivals is hardly over. Boston outshot Montreal 28-26, had the Canadiens hemmed in their end for long stretches, and looked nothing like a team that is overmatched and demoralized. But unlike the first two games, they were unable to erase a two-goal Montreal lead as their frantic third-period comeback fell short and Eller ended it with an empty-net goal with three seconds left on the clock. "I dont think we played badly, we just made stupid mistakes that ended up costing us the game," said Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. "We have to get rid of those, and keep playing like were playing. "Youre three goals behind and its tough. You battle back, but times running out. We have to try to get that lead and play with the lead." For the third straight game in the series, the Canadiens held a 3-1 lead in the third period but, this time they didnt let it slip away. In Game 2 on Saturday in Boston, the Bruins scored four goals in the final 10 minutes for a 5-3 comeback win. This time, they got one back, but it wasnt enough. Rask was pulled with 2:20 left to play. Only four seconds later, Meszaros beat Price with a high shot through traffic off a feed from Milan Lucic. Eller said the Canadiens may finally be getting a hang of retaining the lead. "We learned a little bit from the last game and we didnt panic," said the Danish centre, who has eight points in seven post-season games after a disappointing regular season. "You know they are going to come hard when youre down by two. They gave it all theyve got and we were prepared for it and held strong." "We werent as good as them in the first period and that cost us," countered Bruins forward Jarome Iginla. "After that, we were playing catch-up. "We found a way to get ourselves back in it, but the first period was the biggest difference in the game. We werent as sharp as them early." Canadian anthem singer Ginette Reno had the 21,273 at the Bell Centre at maximum loudness to start the game, but after an early flurry, the Bruins took control of the puck through the first 10 minutes of play. Then Michael Bournival made a gritty play to get the puck around the boards to Subban, who left it for Thomas Vanek for a diagonal pass that gave Plekanec a shot into an open side for his third of the playoffs at 10:57. Subban was sent off for roughing after a high hit on Reilly Smith that also took out Vanek, sending the Austrian to the clinic with an apparent right leg problem. He returned for the second period. "I spoke to him after and he said "Im fine, dont worry about it," said Subban. "I was pretty happy to see him back there skating. Obviously I dont want to hurt my own teammates with a body check, but sometimes that happens." As Subbans penalty ended, Rask neglected to alert his teammates by banging his stick on the ice. That left the defenceman open to collect Ellers pass, go in on a breakaway, put a deke on Rask and score on a low forehand shot at 14:44. Mike Weaver blocked a shot that went to Daniel Briere, who sent Weise in on a breakaway with a pass up the middle. The fourth-line winger beat Rask between the pads for a three-goal lead at 13:52 of the second. But Bergeron won a face-off from Plekanec in the Montreal zone and reached across himself to deflect Torey Krugs point shot past Price with 2:12 left in the middle period. That put the Bruins in comeback mode. But despite pushing hard, they managed only seven third-period shots. "We were very solid playing with the lead," said Montreal coach Michel Therrien, who caused a surprise by tweaking his lines, moving Vanek to the second unit with Plekanec and putting Brendan Gallagher on the top line. "We wanted energy on each line," he said. "Gallagher brings energy to any line he plays on. And Vanek made a heck of a play on the first goal, so I was pleased with the players." Notes: As expected, the Canadiens put Douglas Murray in the lineup for the first time in the post-season in place of Francis Bouillon. Travis Moen went in for Brandon Prust. Ryan White, George Parros and Jarred Tinordi were scratched. . . Gallagher celebrated his 22nd birthday. . . The Bruins made no changes, with Matt Barkowski, Justin Florek and Corey Potter sitting out. Nike Zoom Wholesale . When the next inning rolled around Wednesday, though, Nationals manager Matt Williams sent Strasburg to the mound to face the top of the Dodgers order in what would become a 3-2 victory for Washington, the first time this season the No. Nike Zoom For Sale . Finlands Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves to lead Dallas over the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 Saturday night. He received plenty of help from the Stars defence and got goals from Ray Whitney and Russias Valeri Nichushkin. http://www.cheapnikezoom.net/.ca. Mr. Fraser, It looks like Martin Brodeur is coming back to play for the Blues. I was wondering if you have any great stories or fond memories of your time on the ice with Brodeur - in the NHL, or maybe even the Olympics. Nike Zoom Discount . It was a day that saw England slump off a World Cup field once again battered and bruised. This time there was no red card to wonder about, no goalkeeping error or individual mistake. They were thoroughly beaten by something they have nothing of – genuine world class ability. Nike Zoom Clearance . A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court said his girlfriend told police they got into the argument early Thursday at his suburban Minneapolis home.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex Ryan would love to be reunited with Ed Reed. Its on New York Jets general manager John Idzik to make it happen. But thats if he even wants the 35-year-old free-agent safety. Reed, released Tuesday by Houston, cleared waivers Wednesday and is available to any team. Ryan, who coached Reed for several years in Baltimore, acknowledged that he and Idzik discussed the possibility of adding him. "If we did, I keep that conversation private and all that kind of stuff," Ryan said. "But part of due diligence, if youve coached a player, Im sure you would want that input. So, did we have it? I think its safe to say yes." Reed missed the Texans first two games after hip surgery and was relegated to a backup role in recent games, making just 16 tackles. He was unhappy not starting in Houston after signing a three-year, $15 million deal in the off-season after 11 years in Baltimore. Reed also criticized the team for being outplayed and outcoached after the Texans seventh straight loss last Sunday.dddddddddddd The Jets have the NFLs 26th-ranked pass defence, but Ryan insisted he is pleased with his current group of safeties, including Dawan Landry, Jaiquawn Jarrett and Antonio Allen -- whom the coach said has "a chance to be really good." But that might not prevent Ryan from wanting to add Reed, who was one of his favourites and is mentioned as one of the leagues greatest players at his position. "Its a logical question," Ryan said. "Look, the way I am, I could say absolutely yes, I would like him on our team. And Ill say that knowing you guys know me." Ryan quickly mentioned former Jets such as Brandon Moore, Alan Faneca, Trevor Pryce and Damien Woody as guys hed always like to have playing for him. "Anybody that Ive ever coached, that bled for me," Ryan said, "I want them." ' ' '