The Lightning deserve to lose this game just for picking that singer for O Canada.
First period
With the arena about as loud as when the Canadiens introduce their training camp in the home-opener, the puck drops in Game 1.
A collision between Arber Xhekaj and Dominic James sends the Lightning forward to the ice writhing in pain. It looks like Tampa Bay is down to 11 forwards early.
The Canadiens leave the slot completely abandoned and left Erik Cernak step up to the has...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference QFs
Game 1: Montreal Canadiens (A3) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (A2)
Start time: **5:45 PM EDT / 2:45 PM PDT** In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: TNT, truTV In the Lightning region: The Spot Streaming: HBO Max , Sportsnet+
After 82 games, the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning each had 106 points, ranking fifth and sixth in the overall NHL standings. Their reward for such impressiv...
Matt Drake, Jared Book, and Patrik Bexell join the podcast for a round table ahead of the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens. The first thing that is being discussed is the physicality of the series and the fact that Montreal looks to be in a better position to handle it this season compared to last season’s series against the Washington Capitals.
One of the key themes early in the podcast was the uncertainty around Victor Hedma...
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference QFs
Game 1: Montreal Canadiens (A3) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (A2)
Start time: **5:45 PM EDT / 2:45 PM PDT** In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French) In the United States: TNT, truTV In the Lightning region: The Spot Streaming: HBO Max , Sportsnet+
After a rough start to the 2024-25 season, the Canadiens had to exhaust their energy reserves over the final third of the season just to make the playoffs. It took winni...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Alexandre Texier and Ivan Demidov are prepared to be difference-makers in their second-line roles. [ La Presse ]
The difference between the 2021 series versus the Tampa Bay Lightning and the one the Canadiens are about to start today is that Montreal has spent the past five years adding skill to the lineup through the draft, explains Phillip Danault. [ RDS ]
Juraj Slafkovský on facing his friend, Erik Cernak, in the opening round: “I’m going t...
The Montreal Victoire added another chapter to their remarkable season on Friday night, defeating the Boston Fleet 3–2 in overtime in front of a sold-out crowd.
Montreal became the first team in PWHL history to reach 60 points in a single regular season, further solidifying their position atop the league standings. The win also extended their points streak to 16 games, a stretch that includes 14 victories and just two overtime losses. It was also their seventh straight win, and second str...
The Montreal Canadiens secured their playoff spot relatively early this season after needing a win in the final game in 2024-25 to punch their ticket. They separated themselves from the wild-card pack during an eight-game winning streak, and were tied for top spot in the Atlantic Division as late as April 12.
Despite going into the post-season playing on the road as a divisional third seed, the Canadiens ended up sixth overall in the league standings. Five of the top nine clubs were from ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
“Today is Friday, then it will be Saturday, and the game will be on Sunday,” Jakub Dobeš shared as he tries to keep himself calm for the opening game of the playoffs. [ La Presse | Canadiens.com ]
Nick Suzuki revealed the reason for his absence from practice on Thursday: the birth of his daughter the previous day. [ TVA Sports ]
Cole Caufield says as long as his overall game keeps improving, his goal totals will continue to rise. [ The Athleti...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
“I expect us to play the best hockey we can play,” Martin St-Louis says. [ Montreal Gazette ]
The young Canadiens are steeled by last year’s playoff experience. [ Sportsnet ]
The Habs are also counting on Juraj Slafkovský to be a difference-maker. [ TSN ]
Brendan Gallagher has had a huge impact on the young Canadiens. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Alexandre Carrier’s potential return reinforces the blue line. [ La Presse ]
Can the playof...
After the Buffalo Sabres clinched the Atlantic Division on Monday night, the only thing left to determine was where the first-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning would start. With Montreal’s loss on Tuesday night in Philadelphia, Tampa Bay secured the second seed in the division, and gets to play the opening two games, and Game 7 if it reaches that point, at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
The NHL released the full schedule for the series, ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Brendan Gallagher came out with something to prove after sitting out for four games. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Taking a look at the potential Canadiens’ playoff roster. [ NHL ]
Five things to know about the Habs heading into the playoffs, from how they got there to their chances of going all the way. [ CBC ]
There’s no such thing as a sophmore slump for Lane Hutson. [ TVA Sports ]
Looking at the numbers ahead of the Canadiens meeting t...
The Montreal Canadiens played their final regular season game on Tuesday night, paying a visit to the Philadelphia Flyers, who booked their ticket to the playoffs the night prior. It was a frustrating night for the Habs in general, as they ran into the best version of Samuel Ersson in net, and made some defensive mistakes that led to a 4-2 loss to wrap up their 82-game schedule.
This isn’t the end for the 2025-26 Montreal Canadiens, however, as their own ticket to the playoffs has been bo...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
The Canadiens prepare for a tough playoff test vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Jacob Fowler leads Scott Wheeler’s 2026 list of the Top 20 drafted NHL goalie prospects. [ The Athletic ]
Pierre Turgeon and Nick Suzuki have a lot of qualities in common. [ RDS ]
Alexander Zharovsky’s season is over as Salavat Yulaev was swept by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. [ RDS ]
Teamwork takes on new meaning for the Montreal Victoire with Ma...
First period
AHL opponent or not, the top line comes out in playoff mode with a high-danger chance in the opening 10 seconds, and Cole Caufield draws a high-sticking call to head to the power play.
It’s a short first wave with the top line having the shift to start, but the second unit looks dangerous as well. There’s been little to complain about on the power play the past few games.
Matvei Michkov gets a breakaway, but Jakub Dobeš makes the leg save on his deke.
Nick Su...
Game 82: Montreal Canadiens @ Philadelphia Flyers
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Flyers region: NBC Sports Philadelphia Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Montreal Canadiens have chosen to rest some veterans for tonight’s game. Mike Matheson will enter the playoffs on at least five days’ rest as he will watch from the press box. Phillip Danault will join him, and Josh Anderson, who is due for a busy series shadowi...
Game 82: Montreal Canadiens @ Philadelphia Flyers
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Flyers region: NBC Sports Philadelphia Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning twice in a 10-day span. They went 2-2 versus the Boston Bruins, the same against the Atlantic Division-winning Buffalo Sabres, and claimed three games of the season series with the Ottawa Senators. They took points from...
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Steve Shutt believes Nick Suzuki will become one of the Canadiens greats. [ TVA Sports ]
Suzuki joins rare company with point 100. [ Sportsnet ]
The Habs have made the playoffs again, and multiple players have had milestone seasons, but they’re still building. [ NHL ]
David Reinbacher’s debut and his dad’s race to be in the building for it. [ The Athletic ]
Joshua Roy is on a tear, and the Rocket will need him to continue during the ...
The Montreal Canadiens rolled into Long Island on Sunday night with a chance to eliminate the New York Islanders from the playoff picture, and move into second place in the Atlantic all at once. An offensive explosion late in the second period helped them do exactly that, and depending on what happens with Buffalo and Tampa Bay from here out, they still have a chance to win their division outright. The Habs are left with just one remaining regular season tilt, which will go on Tuesday night ag...
Vinzenz Rohrer signing a contract with the Montreal Canadiens on June 14, 2025 put Zürich in an unusual situation. One of Europe’s best teams didn’t know if they were going to keep one of their best players from the 2024-25 season in 2025-26. The team was on lockdown, and didn’t really know what to expect.
At Montreal’s rookie and main training camps Rohrer didn’t do much to stand out, and as expected he went back to Switzerland on September 29, just before Zürich’s 10th game. The team wa...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
David Reinbacher’s first NHL game really hit home when he saw how happy his father was after making the trip to New York to see him. [ La Presse ]
Nick Suzuki said he knew the Canadiens had the players in place for him to achieve a 100-point season. [ Journal de Montreal ]
The five-player club Suzuki joined with his 100th point in a season for the Canadiens. [ La Presse ]
The stats that are allowing Cole Caufield to be in the running for ...
First period
There’s a loud “Go Habs Go!” chant to begin the game and the Canadiens are responding to the energy of their travelling fans.
It looks like they’re going to treat Matthew Schaefer the same way they handled Darren Raddysh when they faced the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving him no space to work with at the blue line.
Josh Anderson gets his stick into the face of Carson Soucy and goes to the box. We’ll see what the penalty-killing defence duos are.
Mike Matheson and...
Game 81: Montreal Canadiens @ New York Islanders
Start time: **6:00 PM EDT / 3:00 PM PDT** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Islanders region: MSGSN Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
Rather than focusing on trying to claim home-ice advantage for the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens’ attention has now turned to setting three defence pairings for when the post-season begins. They know they won’t have Noah Dobson for the first few playoff games, and the status...
Game 81: Montreal Canadiens @ New York Islanders
Start time: **6:00 PM EDT / 3:00 PM PDT** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Islanders region: MSGSN Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Islanders completed the majority of their road schedule early, leaving them with 10 of the final 12 games to be played on home ice, a chance to use that advantage to pull away from some division rivals and secure a playoff spot. They haven’t capitalized on that schedule however,...
After a very disappointing effort last night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it turned out to be worse than just a loss for the Montreal Canadiens. This morning, they’ve announced that Noah Dobson will be out for at least two weeks with an upper-body injury.
Le défenseur Noah Dobson a subi une blessure au haut du corps et sera réévalué dans deux semaines. Defenseman Noah Dobson sustained an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. pic.twitter.com/KjjNY6hcXJ — x – ...
The Boston Fleet hosted the Montreal Victoire in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,850 at TD Garden, where Lina Ljungblom scored the lone goal and Ann-Renée Desbiens secured her seventh shutout in a 1-0 win.
As expected, offence was hard to come by with the league’s top two goaltenders — Desbiens and Aerin Frankel — standing tall between the pipes. The game remained scoreless until the third period, when Lina Ljungblom broke through with the game’s only goal, beating Frankel to give Montrea...