Canadiens and Lightning Set to Clash in Playoff Opener

Montreal and Tampa Bay meet in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:09am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, with the players' forms broken down into angular, overlapping shapes in a dynamic, high-energy composition.The Canadiens and Lightning's first-round playoff clash is set to be a hard-fought, high-intensity affair.Today in Tampa

The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will face off in Game 1 of their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series on Sunday in Tampa, Florida. The two teams tied for second place in the Atlantic Division during the regular season, with the Lightning earning the higher seed. The Canadiens are looking to build on their surprise playoff run last season, while the Lightning hope to recapture their championship form from 2020 and 2021.

Why it matters

This series features two teams with contrasting playoff histories. The Canadiens are a young, up-and-coming squad trying to establish themselves as a consistent postseason contender, while the Lightning are a veteran team looking to bounce back after early playoff exits the past three seasons. The outcome of this series could set the tone for the rest of the Canadiens' and Lightning's respective postseason journeys.

The details

The Canadiens are led by center Nick Suzuki, who had 101 points in the regular season, and winger Cole Caufield, who scored 51 goals. The Lightning counter with the dynamic duo of winger Nikita Kucherov, who racked up 130 points, and center Jake Guentzel, who had 38 goals and 50 assists. In net, the Canadiens will start Jakub Dobes, who has limited playoff experience, while the Lightning will turn to veteran Andrei Vasilevskiy, a former Vezina Trophy winner and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient.

  • The Canadiens and Lightning will play Game 1 on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 5:45 p.m. ET.

The players

Nick Suzuki

The Canadiens' top center, who led the team with 101 points in the regular season.

Cole Caufield

The Canadiens' scoring winger, who netted 51 goals in the regular season.

Nikita Kucherov

The Lightning's star winger, who led the team with 130 points in the regular season.

Jake Guentzel

The Lightning's top-line center, who scored 38 goals and added 50 assists in the regular season.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Lightning's veteran goaltender, a former Vezina Trophy winner and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited for the opportunity to take on the Lightning in the playoffs. They're a tough team, but we believe we can match up well against them and make a deep run.”

— Nick Suzuki, Canadiens Center

“The playoffs are a whole different animal, and we know we have the experience and talent to make another championship run. We're focused on taking care of business in Game 1 against a scrappy Canadiens team.”

— Nikita Kucherov, Lightning Winger

What’s next

The winner of this series will advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they will face the winner of the series between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Canadiens and Lightning features two teams with contrasting playoff pedigrees. The young Canadiens are looking to build on their surprise run last season, while the veteran Lightning are aiming to recapture their championship form. The outcome of this series could set the tone for the rest of the postseason for both teams.