Tampa Bay Lightning host Montreal Canadiens in 2026 playoff opener

Former Lightning star Martin St. Louis leads Montreal against his old team in first-round series.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:25pm

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The Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens will face off in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, with the Lightning holding home-ice advantage after finishing the regular season with 50 wins to the Canadiens' 48. The series features a matchup between the Lightning and their former star player Martin St. Louis, who is now the head coach of the Canadiens and is seeking his first Stanley Cup title with the team.

Why it matters

This playoff series is a highly anticipated rematch between two of the NHL's most storied franchises. The Lightning are looking to break through after being eliminated in the first round for three consecutive seasons, while the Canadiens are aiming to win their first Stanley Cup since 1993. The added intrigue of St. Louis, a Lightning legend, now leading the Canadiens against his former team adds an extra layer of drama to the matchup.

The details

Both the Lightning and Canadiens finished the regular season with 106 points, but the Lightning earned home-ice advantage by virtue of their 50 wins compared to the Canadiens' 48. The Canadiens won two of the four regular-season meetings between the teams, including the last two by a combined score of 6-1.

  • The first-round series between the Lightning and Canadiens begins on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Martin St. Louis

A Hall of Fame forward who played 13 seasons for the Lightning, leading the franchise to its first Stanley Cup title in 2004 when he won the Hart Trophy. St. Louis' No. 26 jersey was the first to be retired by the Lightning organization in 2017, and he is now the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The NHL team based in Tampa, Florida, who are seeking to break through after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.

Montreal Canadiens

The NHL team based in Montreal, Quebec, who are seeking their first Stanley Cup title since 1993 and their first playoff series win since losing to the Lightning in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

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What’s next

The winner of the Lightning-Canadiens series will advance to the second round of the 2026 NHL playoffs.

The takeaway

This first-round playoff matchup between the Lightning and Canadiens features a compelling storyline with Martin St. Louis, a Lightning legend, now leading the Canadiens against his former team. Both teams are seeking to make deep playoff runs, with the Lightning looking to break through after recent first-round exits and the Canadiens aiming for their first Stanley Cup in over 30 years.