The Tampa Bay Lightning, led by coach Jon Cooper, are gearing up for another Stanley Cup run, facing the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1. The Lightning aim to overcome their recent playoff struggles after being eliminated in the first round for three consecutive years.
Key points
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper addresses playoff struggles
Lightning eliminated in first round for three consecutive years
Team prepares for Game 1 against Montreal Canadiens
Focus on overcoming recent playoff challenges
Mentioned in this story
Jon CooperTampa
Tampa Bay LightningMontreal CanadiensStanley Cup playoffs
Tampa Bay Lightning Ready for Another Stanley Cup Run. Canadiens Stand in the Way
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper says it is hard to believe his team has been knocked out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round the past three years.
But it is true â and he knows it.
Speaking to the media ahead of todayâs Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens in Tampa, Cooper said it is something they have even talked about as the season has gone on.
âItâs weird that it doesnât feel like itâs been three years since we have won a series, but it has been three years,â Cooper said on Saturday after his teamâs final prep before the playoffs begin. âIt just doesnât feel like that. But I do know this year had a different theme to it about wanting to get here and to make a run.
âBut that doesnât guarantee you anything. What we want to do is get here, and see what happens. Does it come up during that year that we havenât advanced? Thereâs no question it has come up. It can be used a motivation, yes, but it doesnât guarantee how we do.â
What challenges have the Tampa Bay Lightning faced in recent playoffs?
The Lightning have been eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past three years.
Who is the coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning?
Jon Cooper is the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
When is Game 1 of the Lightning vs. Canadiens series?
Game 1 of the series between the Lightning and Canadiens is scheduled for today.
What is the significance of the Lightning's matchup against the Canadiens?
The matchup against the Canadiens is crucial for the Lightning as they seek to break their playoff elimination streak and pursue another Stanley Cup title.
Since losing to the Avalanche in 2022, the Lightning were knocked out in Round 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023, then lost in 5 to the rival Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025.
The Panthers, of course, won the Cup in those years.
Either the Lightning or Panthers have played in the Stanley Cup Final the past six years: Tampa Bay went from 2020-22, Florida from 2023-25.
âTheyâve been through Game 7 heartbreaks in conference finals,â Cooper said. âTheyâve been through being swept. ⊠But theyâve also been through Cups, being to four Finals, that whole wave of ups-and-downs.ââ
Tampa Bay will be without captain Victor Hedman at least to start this series after he left the team for personal reasons on March 25.
That, certainly, would be a great addition to the Lightning in its quest to beat a very good Canadiens team that fought Tampa Bay throughout the season and ended up tied in points with 106 apiece.
As Cooper points out, the Lightning have home ice advantage because it won 40 games in regulation compared to Montrealâs 34.
The Canadiens have come out of a total rebuild since losing to the Lightning in the Covid-realigned 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Montreal has a young, fast team that will certainly try and use its unique home-ice advantage to its advantage when the series turns to the Bell Centre for Game 3.
The Lightning, who went 0-2 against the Panthers at home last year before winning Game 3 to at least force a return to Tampa, cannot afford a slow start in this series.
Not if they hope to get out of the first round this time.
âI got traded here, we went to the Stanley Cup Final and havenât been back since,â Brandon Hagel said. âItâs a hard place to get. Itâs not fun. Long summers arenât that fun. Everyone wants to play, everyone dreams of this moment.
âThere was a message that was sent at the start of the year and all 25 guys have bought in. We do have a really good team that weâre up against, and itâs going to be a really big test for us.â
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (Atl2) v MONTREAL CANADIENS (Atl3)
**All-time Postseason Series â Lightning Lead 3-1:**Won 2021 Stanley Cup Final (5 games); Won 2015 Round 2 (6); Lost 2014 Round 1 (4); Won 2004 Round 2 (4)
Series Schedule â Game 1: at Tampa Bay, 5:45 Sunday (TNT, truTV); Game 2: at Tampa Bay, 7 Tuesday (ESPN2); Game 3: at Montreal, 7 Friday (TNT, truTV); Game 4: at Montreal, 7 April 26 (ESPN); *Game 5: at Tampa Bay, April 29 TBD; *Game 6: at Montreal, May 1 TBD; *Game 7: at Tampa Bay, May 3 TBD
