Canadiens 'confident group' entering Eastern 1st Round against Lightning

Montreal won each of last 2 regular-season meetings that had playoff intensity

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in bold blues, reds, and whites, depicting the intense action of a hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, with players and the puck broken down into sharp, overlapping planes.The Canadiens and Lightning renew their fierce playoff rivalry, with a cubist-inspired illustration capturing the high-octane action on the ice.Today in Tampa

The Montreal Canadiens are feeling confident and excited as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canadiens won the last two regular-season meetings between the teams, which had a playoff-like intensity. Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said his team is a 'confident group' and ready for the heated, competitive series.

Why it matters

The Canadiens and Lightning have developed a fierce rivalry in recent seasons, with their regular-season matchups taking on a playoff-like intensity. This first-round series will be a rematch of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, won by the Lightning, and will feature two of the Eastern Conference's top teams battling for a chance to advance in the postseason.

The details

The Canadiens and Lightning have split their last two regular-season meetings, with Montreal winning 4-1 in Tampa on March 31 and 2-1 at home on April 9. Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble said the last game 'just felt like it meant more' due to the high intensity. Montreal will be without defenseman Noah Dobson for the first round due to an upper-body injury, but they are confident in their depth, with Arber Xhekaj set to play on the third defensive pair.

  • The Eastern Conference First Round series between the Canadiens and Lightning will begin on Sunday, April 23 (5:45 p.m. ET).
  • Montreal won 4-1 in Tampa on March 31 and 2-1 at home on April 9 in their last two regular-season meetings.

The players

Martin St. Louis

The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, who said his team is a 'confident group' heading into the playoffs.

Jayden Struble

A defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, who said the last regular-season game against the Lightning 'just felt like it meant more' due to the high intensity.

Nikita Kucherov

The star forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished second in the NHL with 130 points this season.

Alex Newhook

A forward for the Montreal Canadiens, who said the team must be wary of the Lightning's ability to attack in waves.

Noah Dobson

A defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, who is expected to miss the first round of the playoffs due to an upper-body injury.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, the last time we played them, that was definitely a playoff game -- just super energetic. Every game means a lot, but that one just felt like it meant more.”

— Jayden Struble, Canadiens defenseman

“A lot of energy. Confident group, excited … just probably all the feelings you should have this time of the season.”

— Martin St. Louis, Canadiens head coach

“It's an important part of the series, no doubt. I think we know what a lot of those forwards are capable of once they have the puck on the rush and they have space and time. So, it's important for us and we're going to be dialed in on that.”

— Alex Newhook, Canadiens forward

What’s next

The winner of the Canadiens-Lightning series will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the winner of the Hurricanes-Islanders series.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Canadiens and Lightning promises to be a hard-fought, intense series between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams. Montreal's confidence and recent regular-season success against Tampa Bay have them feeling prepared for the challenge, but the Lightning's star-studded roster will make them a formidable opponent.