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NHL futures odds: Lightning and Canadiens face off in first round of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
TL;DR
The Tampa Bay Lightning face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both teams finished the regular season with 106 points, but the Lightning secured second place in the Atlantic Division.
Key points
- Tampa Bay Lightning face Montreal Canadiens in playoffs
- Both teams finished regular season with 106 points
- Lightning secured second place in Atlantic Division
- Florida teams represented Eastern Conference for six years
- Teams split their four-game season series
Tampa Bay LightningMontreal CanadiensFlorida PanthersColorado Avalanche
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A Florida-based team has represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final each of the last six years. The Tampa Bay Lightning will attempt to extend the Sunshine State's streak to seven this postseason.
Tampa Bay is the state's only hope as the Florida Panthers, who appeared in each of the last three Stanley Cup Finals and won the past two, failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. The Lightning, who won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the Final the following year, begin their quest in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens that gets underway Sunday.
The Lightning and Canadiens both finished the regular season with 106 points, but the former earned second place in the Atlantic Division by virtue of having more regulation victories. The clubs split their four-game season series, with Tampa Bay winning the first two meetings and Montreal taking the next two.
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Neither team enters their fifth postseason matchup on a roll. The Lightning lost four of their final six regular-season games, while the Canadiens dropped two of their last three after going 10-1-0 over their previous 11 contests.
Tampa Bay won three of its first four playoff series against Montreal, beginning with a four-game sweep in 2004 en route to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. The Canadiens returned the favor 10 years later, but the Lightning won their showdown the following postseason and then defeated Montreal in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final in five games.
Q&A
What teams are playing in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs?
The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens are facing off in the first round.
How did the Tampa Bay Lightning perform in the regular season before the playoffs?
The Lightning finished the regular season with 106 points, earning second place in the Atlantic Division.
What is the significance of Florida teams in the Stanley Cup Finals?
A Florida-based team has represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final for the last six years, with the Lightning aiming to extend this streak.
What was the outcome of the season series between the Lightning and Canadiens?
The Lightning and Canadiens split their four-game season series, with each team winning two games.
