2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference QFs
Game 4: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (A2)
MTL leads 2-1
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the United States: ESPN
In the Lightning region: The Spot
Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
The Bell Centre was as loud as expected for Game 3. Unlike last year when the Montreal Canadiens returned to play their first game down 2-0 to the Washington Capitals after a surprise post-season berth, the 2025-26 version of the team entered the playoffs as one of the best teams in the NHL this season expecting to take another step, and it backed up those merits with a win in the opening game. The fans weren’t just hoping for a stolen win, but anticipating the Habs retaking the series lead, and that’s what they got to see with another overtime victory.
What no one expected was for Montreal’s top line to be closed down as tightly as it has been at five-on-five so far. Given how much of the offence went through Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky during the regular season, combining for 110 of Montreal’s 279 goals, many would have thought that them being limited was a recipe for disaster. But that hasn’t been the case. The Canadiens’ depth players have been able to step up and that’s proven to be the difference through three games so far.
First it was Josh Anderson who had Jon Cooper scanning through his organizational depth to find someone to contain the speedy winger. At the same time, Zachary Bolduc had been playing exceptionally well, and on Friday night Alexandre Texier joined his line and Kirby Dach rose to Bolduc’s level as the three combined for a big night with two points apiece, on the ice to set up all three of Montreal’s goals. Now there are three lines Tampa Bay’s coaching staff has to focus on, and once again they won’t have control of the matchups to get the personnel they want on the ice.
Tale of the Tape
| Canadiens | Statistics | Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| 56.1% | Expected-goal share | 43.9% |
| 3.00 | Goals per game | 2.67 |
| 2.67 | Goals against per game | 3.00 |
| 30.8% | PP% | 23.1% |
| 76.9% | PK% | 69.2% |
| Juraj Slafkovský (3) | Most goals | Brandon Hagel (4) |
| Suzuki/Caufield (3) | Most assists | Jake Guentzel (5) |
| Juraj Slafkovský (3) | Most points | Brandon Hagel (5) |
The Lightning have a selection of players who have been able to just about match the offence Montreal has produced. However, the scoreboard is the only place the series has been close. With an expected goal share at five-on-five of 56.1%, the Canadiens have been almost as dominant as the Colorado Avalanche (57.4%) in their series with the Los Angeles Kings, a matchup that features a 31-point differential between the Presidents’ Trophy-winner and the worst team that made the playoffs on just 90 points. There may have been three overtime decisions, but Montreal has been playing the more dangerous brand of hockey to get out to a series lead.
It was very nearly a 3-0 lead with a late shot from Lane Hutson off the post in Game 2, but that missed opportunity clearly didn’t faze a player more known for his passing skill after tying the franchise’s single-season defenceman assist record. On Friday, he tied for the team high at five individual shot attempts, and took the final shot of the game.
Also with five shot attempts was Ivan Demidov, who got three of them on target. If this series is coming down to which team has the better depth with the top line locked down, he is a player who could really tip the scales. He only has one point, and might be guilty of doing a bit too much in his second NHL playoff series. He was also limited to only power-play production versus the Capitals last season, so some five-on-five production would go a long way.
It’s not helping Demidov’s case that Alex Newhook hasn’t been able to find a footing in this series so far, making it understandable that he’s trying to do all the work himself, but he’s talented enough to help his linemates out with some skilled plays to get them the puck, and that’s the next step Montreal needs to really turn the edge in five-on-five play into more of an advantage in the scoring department.
