Game 79: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Lightning region: The Spot
Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Montreal Canadiens haven’t been putting up convincing results recently, with their last two wins coming via shootout versus some teams not in the playoff chase. Being unable to get engaged for teams not in the post-season battle has been an issue for the club in an otherwise solid end to the season.
The good news is that are no more games to play versus clubs with nothing to play for over the final week of the regular season. The Habs play their final game versus an Atlantic Division opponent tonight with the Tampa Bay Lighning in town, and finish the schedule versus the teams currently ranked third to fifth in the Metropolitan Division.
Montreal has played well versus the teams that actually sit in playoff spots. Versus the other seven clubs that rank in the top eight of the Eastern Conference, they’ve gone 13-7-3 this year. That includes a 1-1-1 mark versus the Lightning, claiming the win with a 4-1 decision during the recent five-game road trip. That means tonight they have a chance to claim another season series versus a team from Florida.
Tale of the Tape
| Canadiens | Statistics | Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| 46-22-10 | Record | 48-24-6 |
| 48.6% (23rd) | Expected-goal share | 54.3% (4th) |
| 3.45 (6th) | Goals per game | 3.55 (3rd) |
| 3.08 (21st) | Goals against per game | 2.81 (3rd) |
| 23.9% (8th) | PP% | 21.5% (14th) |
| 77.7% (21st) | PK% | 82.0% (7th) |
| 1-1-1 | Head-to-Head Record | 2-1-0 |
| Cole Caufield (49) | Most goals | Nikita Kucherov (43) |
| Nick Suzuki (68) | Most assists | Nikita Kucherov (84) |
| Nick Suzuki (96) | Most points | Nikita Kucherov (127) |
With the Buffalo Sabres winning last night, the opportunity isn’t there to take over the division just by winning this game, but they could if Buffalo loses to Columbus in the second half of a back-to-back that will be played at the same time. Buffalo will be playing its 80th game of the campaign while Montreal and Tampa Bay contest their 79th.
Slow starts have plagued the Canadiens recently, but they recognized the importance of the game in Tampa on March 31 and came out of the gate with good intensity. That game was one of their best efforts of the season, playing the Lightning evenly and holding a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes, and getting through the third period unscathed despite a hard push from the home team. It was proof that Montreal can reach a higher level when the situation requires it, and tonight such an effort is needed again.
As things stand, these two teams are set to meet in the opening round, but they’re also both virtually guaranteed to be top-three seeds given their six-point edge over the Boston Bruins in the first wild-card spot. Even if they don’t end up meeting in the opening round, that reunion would be due in the second round. If either of these teams is going to go a run, that path goes through the other in some form, so you can count tonight’s contest as Game 0 of that potential playoff series as each club looks to make the opening statement.
