Canadiens' St. Louis Focused on Playoffs, Not Past Lightning Ties

Montreal coach says he has 'zero' emotion toward his former team ahead of playoff matchup.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:58am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, with sharp planes of blue, red, and white representing the teams' colors and the intense action on the ice.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes playoff matchup between Martin St. Louis' Canadiens and his former team, the Lightning.Today in Tampa

Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, who spent 13 of his 16 NHL seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including winning the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup, says he has no emotional attachment to his former team as the two clubs prepare to face off in the playoffs. St. Louis is solely focused on leading the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final.

Why it matters

St. Louis is a Lightning legend, having won the Hart Trophy as MVP and the franchise's first Stanley Cup during his time there. However, his lack of emotional investment in the matchup against his former team shows his full commitment to the Canadiens and their playoff run.

The details

St. Louis played 16 seasons in the NHL from 1998-99 to 2014-15, with 13 of those years spent with the Lightning. During his time in Tampa, he won the Hart Trophy as MVP in 2004 and the Stanley Cup that same year after scoring 24 points in 23 playoff games. Despite his storied career with the Lightning, St. Louis says he has 'zero' emotion attached to the team as he prepares to lead the Canadiens against them in the playoffs.

  • The Canadiens and Lightning will face off in Game 1 on Sunday evening at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

The players

Martin St. Louis

The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, who spent 13 of his 16 NHL seasons playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won the Hart Trophy as MVP and the Stanley Cup.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The NHL team that Martin St. Louis played for during the majority of his 16-year NHL career, where he won the Hart Trophy as MVP and the franchise's first Stanley Cup.

Montreal Canadiens

The NHL team that Martin St. Louis currently coaches, leading them to the Stanley Cup Playoffs where they will face his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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What they’re saying

“I don't have any emotion attached to the Lightning right now. Zero. Honestly, I think I'm so far removed from that. You know, I think it's my fourth (full) year now (with Montreal). I've gone to the building plenty of times. I think the first time I went, yeah, it was a little weird. But I'm so far removed from that.”

— Martin St. Louis, Head Coach, Montreal Canadiens

What’s next

Game 1 of the playoff series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will take place on Sunday evening at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

The takeaway

Martin St. Louis' lack of emotional attachment to his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite his storied career and success there, demonstrates his complete focus and commitment to leading the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final. His past accomplishments with the Lightning are now secondary to his current mission of guiding the Canadiens to playoff glory.