Marc Dumont
The Montreal Canadiens faced the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, aiming to establish a dominant 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
The Habs never managed to create a lead, with the Lightning eventually emerging with a 3-2 overtime win.
Let’s dive into the highlights!
Always So Greasy
It’s legitimately impressive how greasy the Lightning tend to be every shift. Not only do they start most of the ugly stuff, they also act as if it was some sort of cardinal sin to penalize them for their clear-cut idiocy.
Corey Perry epitomizes this lizard-like approach to logic. He constantly looks for smaller opponents, and when they inform him they aren’t interested in sharing his musk, which is almost certainly a mix of old chili and Mr. Beast-branded snacks, he gets very, very upset.
Perry was in the box as the Canadiens tied the game in the first period, a good reminder that the best way to make the Lightning pay is to score whenever the shenanigans emerge.
It was Lane Hutson, a player who Perry attempted to fight in a recent game, who fittingly scored the game-tying goal.
This is what you want to see, especially since the Lightning start ugly scrums every single shift. Make them pay for their idiocy.
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) April 21, 2026
The #GoHabsGo tie the game via a Lane Hutson poweprlay goal. pic.twitter.com/dXTZC5FOKA
Adapt And Overcome
If you watched the first half of the game on ESPN, you may have gotten the impression that the Lightning were the dominant team, but that was the furthest thing from the truth when it came to the aspects of the game that really mattered.
While the Lightning focused on the ugly stuff, the Canadiens controlled the shots and the high-danger scoring chances at 5v5.
It’s not a pretty way to play hockey on Tampa Bay’s part, but it is a fairly clear path to success for the Canadiens, as long as they keep focusing on hockey rather than extracurricular activities.
For example, Juraj Slafkovsky ended up motivating the Lightning when he fought Brandon Hagel, and caught a heavy punch from his opponent midway through the second period. It was far from an ideal situation, and one the Habs should avoid going forward.
Sportlogiq had the Canadiens winning 88 per cent of the puck battles in the first period.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) April 22, 2026
Missed Opportunity
With the game heating up in the physical department, the Canadiens had a perfect chance to establish their first lead, but veteran centre Phillip Danault failed to capitalize on a wide-open net. It should also be noted that Jake Evans is quietly having a solid series, considering his limited usage.
Phillip Danault misses the wide open net. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/2sWHrr9AlE
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) April 22, 2026
Trailer Park Greasiness
At the risk of being labelled a complainer, which would not be a misnomer given the tone of this article, the Lightning’s greasiness was impossible to ignore.
It’s not just that they constantly take dirty shots after the whistle, it’s also how they act like a shocked Pikachu whenever the referees call the obvious penalties.
Then there’s the diving.
Kucherov goes flying, Guhle off for hooking. pic.twitter.com/uyqw2aLrQK
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) April 22, 2026
And if that doesn’t lead to a powerplay goal, someone like Taylor Raddysh will blatantly dive, and then get upset if the officials do not fall for it. It’s ugly, cowardly, and deceptive hockey at its best.
On the flip side of the coin, you could argue it has led to a lot of success in the past, but you’d be hard-pressed to suggest there was any valid reason to add the extra dose of showboating to the mix on Tuesday.
LOL
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) April 22, 2026
Raddysh looks at the referee when he falls as soon as he feels contact.
And then he's upset there's no call. pic.twitter.com/kvNfVSSAWz
Most importantly, while the Lightning focused on post-whistle roughhousing, the Canadiens focused on generating quality scoring chances.
They held an 11-4 advantage in high-danger scoring chances through 40 minutes of play, including Josh Anderson’s second goal of the series, which provided the Canadiens with a very fragile one-goal lead.
Josh Anderson gives the #GoHabsGo a 2-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/1CJ7VvARC8
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) April 22, 2026
The fragility was confirmed in the third period, when Kucherov scored his first playoff goal in three years to tie the game.
Slafkovsky’s no-look pass through the middle of the ice was the catalyst to the scoring play.
J.J. MOSER IS THE HERO IN TAMPA ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/LxCIv9NkWo
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 22, 2026
Deciding Goal
As was the case in Game One, the score was tied following the end of regulation, necessitating yet another instant of playoff overtime hockey, much to everyone’s delight.
The Lightning were leaps and bounds better than the Habs to start the extra frame.
Yes, the Canadiens were quite tentative, but we’d be removing much of deserved credit from Tampa Bay by simply suggesting it was Montreal that struggled to find its rhythm.
Fortunately for the Canadiens, Jakub Dobes came up big on a few occasions, but it was not enough to stem the momentum, as the Bolts eventually emerged with the 3-2 overtime win.
HUGE SAVE!
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) April 22, 2026
Jakub Dobes saves the day in overtime. pic.twitter.com/BOgpVG0b8M
The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Friday, facing the Lightning at the Bell Centre. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm ET.
All Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5 unless otherwise noted, via Natural Stat Trick.
