First Round Series

  • Game One: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 - OT
  • Game Two: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 - OT
  • Game Three: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 - OT
  • Game Four: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2
  • Game Five: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2
  • Game Six: Lightning 1, Canadiens 0 - OT
  • Game Seven: Canadiens 2, Lightning 1

Playoff Content

The Backcheck: Lightning season ends in hard-fought Game 7 loss

Beat writer Benjamin Pierce recaps the Lightning's season-ending loss in Game 7

Mishkin's Extra Shift: Canadiens 2, Lightning 1 - Game 7

Game 7 Recap: Canadiens 2, Lightning 1

D’Astous Diary: Winning in Quebec, overcoming injury and a first look at Game 7

Lightning stay centered, motivated for Game 7

Playoff Stories

Nuts & Bolts: A winner-take-all Game 7 on home ice

After alternating wins over the first six games, the Bolts and Habs meet on Sunday with a trip to Round 2 on the line

The Backcheck: Goncalves OT winner, Vasilevskiy send First Round series to Game 7

Beat writer Benjamin Pierce recaps the Lightning's overtime win over Montreal in Game 6 on Friday

Mishkin's Extra Shift: Lightning 1, Canadiens 0 - OT - Game 6

Radio broadcaster Dave Mishkin recaps Tampa Bay's overtime victory in Game 6

Game 6 Recap: Lightning 1, Canadiens 0 - OT

Gage Goncalves plays the hero in overtime as the Bolts take Game 6 in Montreal to keep their season alive

Quebec native Gourde not distracted by added attention in Round 1

Forward playing key role for Lightning

James aims to keep improving after first career playoff goal

The former 6th-round pick is coming off a 15 point rookie season with Tampa Bay

Nuts & Bolts: On the road for a must win Game 6

The Lightning head back to Montreal on Friday needing a win to keep their season alive

Lightning employees to Be the Thunder at Game 6 after team donation

Staff eager to ‘hold down the fort’ for Bolts Nation

The Backcheck: Montreal takes Game 5, series lead over Bolts Wednesday

Beat writer Benjamin Pierce recaps the Bolts' loss to the Habs in Game 5

Mishkin's Extra Shift: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2

Radio broadcaster Dave Mishkin recaps Tampa Bay's loss to Montreal in Game 5 on Wednesday

Game 5 Recap | Canadiens 3, Lightning 2

The Bolts drop Game 5 to the Habs in regulation

Hagel the heartbeat: 38’s spark felt by Bolts beyond the ice

Hagel has found a way to lead through both actions and words

Nuts & Bolts: Back on home ice for a pivotal Game 5

The First Round series is now a best-of-three as the Bolts and Habs return to Tampa on Wednesday

Cooper, Kucherov join Stanley Cup Playoffs top 10 lists in Sunday’s win

A pair of Tampa Bay Lightning mainstays continue to climb the NHL record books

The Backcheck: Comeback Bolts do it again to even First Round series 2-2

Beat writer Benjamin Pierce recaps the Lightning's victory in Game 4

Mishkin's Extra Shift: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2

Radio broadcaster Dave Mishkin recaps Tampa Bay's victory over Montreal in Game 4 on Sunday

Game 4 Recap: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2

The Bolts storm back for the comeback win and even the series at 2‑2

‘Ultimate warrior’: McDonagh set for 200th career playoff game Sunday

McDonagh becomes the 10th defenseman in NHL history to reach 200 postseason appearances

The FourCheck: Four numbers to consider ahead of Game 4

The Bolts have historically found success in this situation

Nuts & Bolts: Going for the series split in Montreal

The Lightning face the Canadiens at Bell Centre, looking to pull the First Round back to even

The Backcheck: Vasilevskiy gets Bolts to overtime but Canadiens take Game 3

Beat writer Benjamin Pierce recaps an OT loss to the Habs in Game 3 on Friday

Mishkin's Extra Shift: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 - OT - Game 3

Radio broadcaster Dave Mishkin recaps Tampa Bay's overtime loss to Montreal in Game 3

Game 3 Recap: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 - OT

The Bolts trail 2-1 in the series after an overtime loss in Game 3 on Friday

Nuts & Bolts: Game 3 in Montreal

The series heads north as the Bolts take on the Habs at Bell Centre

Lightning re-assign G Brandon Halverson to AHL Syracuse, Recall G Harrison Meneghin

Meneghin appeared in 14 games for the Orlando Solar Bears this season

Lightning launch into first road playoff games of 2026

The action shifts to the Bell Centre

Brandon Hagel’s Game 2 Theatrics, Ranked

The Lightning's master showman and provocateur played the hits in Tuesday's win over the Habs

The Backcheck: Moser plays OT hero as Bolts even First Round series in Game 2

Beat writer Benjamin Pierce recaps the Lightning's OT victory in Game 2

Game 2 Recap: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 - OT

JJ Moser plays the hero in OT, as the Bolts battle back to level the series

Mishkin's Extra Shift: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 - OT - Game 2

Radio broadcaster Dave Mishkin recaps Tampa Bay's OT victory over Montreal in Game 2 on Tuesday

Carlile will bring usual energy to Stanley Cup Playoffs debut Tuesday

The defenseman earned his first extended season in the NHL

Nuts & Bolts: Lightning aim to bounce back in Game 2

The Bolts will try to level their First Round series on Tuesday at Benchmark International Arena

In-Game Highlights

R1G7 | James' PPG ties the game at one

A shot from the point is deflected by Dominic James and past Jakub Dobes to level Game 7 at 1-1

R1G6 | Goncalves wins Game 6 in OT

Gage Goncalves cleans up a rebound in front of the Montreal net to win Game 6 for Tampa Bay

R1G6 | Vasilevskiy with back-to-back robberies

Andrei Vasilevskiy makes two consecutive stops on Ivan Demidov to keep Game 6 tied

R1G5 | Guentzel buries the 2-on-1 shot

Jake Guentzel knots the game 2-2 for the Bolts with a five-hole score on Jakub Dobes

R1G5 | James snipes in the Bolts' first goal

James scores his first playoff goal of his NHL career to tie the game 1-1 in the second

R1G4 | Hagel scores the go-ahead

Hagel scores once again on a pass set up by Kucherov to give the Bolts the 3-2 lead

R1G4 | Hagel knots it on the power play

Brandon Hagel scores his fifth of the postseason to bring the game even in Montreal

R1G4 | Guentzel puts Bolts on the board

Guentzel converts on the pass from Moser during the 4‑on‑4, pulling the Bolts within one

R1G3 | Vasilevskiy stones Caufield

Andrei Vasilevskiy keeps the game tied with a save on a Cole Caufield breakaway

R1G3 | Hagel stays hot

Brandon Hagel capitalizes on a Montreal turnover and snaps a shot past Jakub Dobes

R1G3 | Point's first of the playoffs is a PPG

Brayden Point snaps home the game-tying goal from the slot on a power play

R1G2 | Moser wins Game 2 in OT

JJ Moser snaps a shot past Jakub Dobes in overtime to lift the Lightning to a 3-2 OT victory

R1G2 | Kucherov ties it on a wraparound

Nikita Kucherov circles the net and tucks the puck home to tie the game 2-2 in the third period

R1G2 | Hagel starts the scoring in Game 2

Brandon Hagel fires a shot through traffic that beats Jakub Dobes to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead

R1G1 | Goal No. 2 for Hagel

Hagel scores his second goal of the night to knot the game 3-3 against the Habs

R1G1 | Hagel scores 29 seconds later

Hagel gives the Bolts the 2-1 lead against the Habs with a backhanded goal

R1G1 | Raddy fires away

Raddysh puts the Bolts on the board with a blast on a powerplay to tie Game 1 vs. Montreal

Playoff Videos

Jon Cooper | Postgame ECQF Game 7 vs Montreal

Jon Cooper on Bolts 2-1 loss in Game 7 against Montreal on Sunday night

Brandon Hagel | Postgame ECQF Game 7 vs Montreal

Brandon Hagel reflects on the Lightning's season ending loss to the Montreal Canadiens

Anthony Cirelli | Postgame ECQF Game 7 vs Montreal

Anthony Cirelli spoke to the media following the Bolts 2-1 Game 7 loss against the Montreal Canadiens

Ryan McDonagh | Postgame ECQF Game 7 vs Montreal

Ryan McDonagh spoke to the media following the Bolts 2-1 Game 7 loss against the Montreal Canadiens

Kick Ice | Episode Three ⚡️

We're serving up another episode of Kick Ice with Ryan Winn!

Jake Guentzel | Postgame ECQF Game 6 at Montreal

Jake Guentzel on Lightning forcing Game 7 on Sunday back in Tampa

Jon Cooper | Postgame ECQF Game 6 at Montreal

Jon Cooper on Bolts 1-0 OT win in Game 6 over Montreal on Friday night at Bell Centre

Andrei Vasilevskiy | Postgame ECQF Game 6 at Montreal

Andrei Vasilevskiy on his Game 6 shutout victory against Montreal on Friday night

Goncalves & Hagel | Postgame ECQF Game 6 at Montreal

Goncalves and Hagel on the OT winner in Bolts 1-0 win in Game 6 at Montreal

Jon Cooper | Pregame ECQF Game 6 at Montreal

Jon Cooper on tonight's Game 6 matchup against the Canadiens in Montreal

JJ Moser | Pregame ECQF Game 6 at Montreal

JJ Moser on importance of a strong start tonight in Game 6 at Montreal

Erik Cernak | Pregame ECQF Game 6 at Montreal

Erik Cernak on team's mindset heading into Game 6 tonight in Montreal

Ryan McDonagh | 4.30.26

Ryan McDonagh spoke to the media prior to the team departing to Montreal for Game 6

Brandon Hagel | 4.30.26

Brandon Hagel spoke to the media prior to the team departing to Montreal for Game 6

Jon Cooper | 4.30.26

Jon Cooper spoke to the media prior to the team departing to Montreal for Game 6

Dominic James | Postgame ECQF Game 5 vs Montreal

Dominic James spoke to the media following the Bolts' 3-2 Game 5 loss

Brayden Point | Postgame ECQF Game 5 vs Montreal

Brayden Point spoke to the media following the Bolts' 3-2 Game 5 loss

Jon Cooper | Postgame ECQF Game 5 vs Montreal

Jon Cooper on Bolts' 3-2 loss in Game 5 against Montreal in Tampa

Corey Perry | Postgame ECQF Game 5 vs Montreal

Corey Perry spoke to the media following the Bolts' 3-2 Game 5 loss

Jon Cooper | 4.28.26

Jon Cooper on tomorrow's Game 5 matchup against Montreal in Tampa

Oliver Bjorkstrand | 4.28.26

Oliver Bjorkstrand on what Bolts will look to carry over from Game 4 win in Montreal

Nick Paul | 4.27.26

Nick Paul spoke to the media after the team arrived in Tampa

Darren Raddysh | 4.27.26

Darren Raddysh spoke to the media after the team arrived in Tampa

Jon Cooper | 4.27.26

Head Coach Jon Cooper spoke to the media after the team arrived in Tampa

Yanni Gourde | Postgame R1G4 at Montreal Canadiens

Yanni Gourde on the Lightning's game 4 victory over the Canadiens.

Jon Cooper | Postgame ECQF Game 4 at Montreal

Jon Cooper on Bolts' 3-2 win over Montreal in Game 4 on Sunday night

Max Crozier | Postgame R1G4 at Montreal Canadians

Max Crozier on his huge hit that changed the momentum of Game 4

Guentzel & Hagel | Postgame ECQF Game 4 at Montreal

Guentzel and Hagel on the resiliency of this Bolts group in 3-2 win over Montreal in Game 4

JJ Moser | Pregame ECQF Game 4 at Montreal

JJ Moser on Bolts using experience to their advantage heading into Game 4 against Montreal

Darren Raddysh | Pregame ECQF Game 4 at Montreal

Darren Raddysh on team mindset heading into tonight's Game 4 matchup in Montreal

Jon Cooper | Pregame ECQF Game 4 at Montreal

Jon Cooper on tonight's Game 4 matchup in Montreal

Kick Ice | Episode Two ⚡️

Ryan Winn is back for our second episode of Kick Ice, energized by Celsius!

Playoff Galleries

Photos: Round 1, Game 7

Fan Photos: Round 1, Game 7

Photos: Round 1, Game 6

Photos: Game 6 Watch Party

Photos: Round 1, Game 5

Fan Photos: Round 1, Game 5

Photos: Round 1, Game 4

Photos: Game 4 Watch Party

Photos: Round 1, Game 3

Photos: Game 3 Watch Party

Photos: Round 1, Game 2

Photos: Round 1, Game 1

Fan Photos: Round 1, Game 1

Bolt for Life: 2026 Playoffs Pep Rally