Lightning strike twice in 29 seconds to take Game 1 lead over Canadiens

Tampa Bay scores two quick goals in the second period to rally from an early deficit against Montreal.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 4:19am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the fast-paced action of a hockey game, with angular shapes and planes representing the players' movements and the puck's trajectory on the ice.The Lightning's quick-strike offense overwhelms the Canadiens' defense in a cubist interpretation of the playoff clash.Today in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Lightning scored two goals in just 29 seconds in the second period to take the lead over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup. Defenseman Darren Raddysh scored on the power play, followed quickly by a goal from forward Brandon Hagel to put the veteran Bolts ahead after the Canadiens had taken an early 1-0 lead.

Why it matters

The Lightning are looking to make another deep playoff run after winning two Stanley Cups earlier in the decade, but have struggled to advance past the first round in recent years. Their ability to quickly respond and take the lead in Game 1 shows they still have the offensive firepower to compete with younger upstart teams like the Canadiens, who are making their first playoff appearance since the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

The details

The Canadiens struck first, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. But the Lightning came out firing in the second period, with Darren Raddysh scoring on the power play by unleashing one of his signature booming slapshots past Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes. Just 29 seconds later, forward Brandon Hagel forced a turnover below the goal line and slipped the puck past Dobes to give Tampa Bay the lead.

  • The Canadiens took a 1-0 lead in the first period.
  • Darren Raddysh scored on the power play to tie the game in the second period.
  • Brandon Hagel scored 29 seconds later to give the Lightning the lead in the second period.

The players

Darren Raddysh

A defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored the team's first goal on the power play in the second period.

Brandon Hagel

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored the go-ahead goal just 29 seconds after Raddysh's tally in the second period.

Jakub Dobes

The goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens who was unable to stop the two quick goals by the Lightning in the second period.

Juraj Slavkofsky

A forward for the Montreal Canadiens who scored two goals to help the team regain the lead later in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to respond quickly after they took the lead. Those two goals in less than a minute really gave us the momentum we needed to take control of the game.”

— Darren Raddysh, Defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning

“We can't let a team like the Lightning get going. They showed why they've been one of the best teams in the league for the past decade with that quick outburst. We need to regroup and find a way to slow them down the rest of the way.”

— Juraj Slavkofsky, Forward, Montreal Canadiens

What’s next

The Canadiens will look to regain the lead and even the series in Game 2 on Friday night in Tampa.

The takeaway

The Lightning's ability to quickly respond and take the lead with two goals in under a minute shows they still have the offensive firepower to compete with younger teams like the Canadiens. However, Montreal proved they can also score in bunches, setting up what should be a highly competitive playoff series between these two storied franchises.