The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally here, and the first-round matchup we’ve all been waiting for kicks off this weekend. The Montreal Canadiens travel south to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for an early evening start at 5:45 p.m. ET at Benchmark International Arena. If you’re watching in the USA, you can catch the game on TNT, truTV, or stream it live on HBO Max. For Canadian viewers, the game will be broadcast nationwide on Sportsnet (SN), CBC, and TVA Sports (TVAS).
Regional Blackouts Explained for the 2026 NHL Playoffs
When it comes to playoff hockey, navigating regional blackouts can sometimes be a headache. Essentially, regional blackouts are designed to protect local broadcasters who hold the exclusive rights to air games in specific TV markets. However, since this is a nationally televised playoff game in both the USA and Canada, local blackout restrictions are lifted. You won’t have to worry about a localized blackout if you’re using the designated national carriers like TNT or Sportsnet. Just make sure your streaming platforms have your proper location settings configured to avoid any digital hiccups.
Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning 2025-26 Season Records & Stats
Both teams come into this series after spectacular 106-point regular seasons. The Tampa Bay Lightning finished 50-26-6, securing home-ice advantage as the 2nd seed in the Atlantic Division, and rested up after dropping a 4-2 decision to the New York Rangers in their April 15 finale. The Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10) played a hard-fought final stretch, coming off a tough 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on April 14.
Montreal’s offense is led by captain Nick Suzuki, who crossed the century mark with a massive 101 points, and Cole Caufield, who buried 51 goals. Tampa Bay counters with the lethal Nikita Kucherov, who put up an astounding 130 points, alongside Jake Guentzel’s 88 points. A major storyline heading into Game 1 is Montreal’s blue line; key defenseman Noah Dobson is out with an upper-body injury, which could significantly impact the Habs’ defensive zone exits.
Taking a look at the betting market, the Lightning are heavily favored at -185 on the moneyline, with the over/under set at a lofty 6.5 goals. From my personal perspective, I completely understand why Tampa Bay is getting so much respect from the oddsmakers. Their playoff pedigree, combined with home-ice advantage and Dobson’s absence for Montreal, makes them the safer side. However, Montreal’s offense has been absolute dynamite all year. Given the offensive firepower on both sides, I see this turning into a fast-paced shootout. I’m confidently backing the OVER 6.5 goals, and I predict a thrilling 5-3 victory for the Tampa Bay Lightning to take a 1-0 series lead.
If you are looking for more details on finding the Montreal Canadiens on TV today or want to map out the rest of the Tampa Bay Lightning TV schedule for this series, be sure to browse our homepage. We also have a full breakdown of the NHL point leaders for the 2025-26 season so you can see exactly how the top stars finished the year. Finally, don’t forget to enter our online hockey pool for cash prizes on my website—it’s completely free to join, and the bracket competition is already heating up!
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