Game 1 Liveblog: Josh Anderson gives Canadiens 1-0 lead on Lightning

The Montreal Canadiens will look to steal a game on the road when they begin their first-round NHL playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday at Benchmark International Arena.

Note the earlier puck drop of 5:45 p.m. (CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM)

Here’s what you need to know for Game 1:

• The two Atlantic Division rivals could not be more even. Not only did they tie for points in the standings with 106, they split their season series, with each team winning twice.
• Tampa Bay won the first two in December, while the Habs beat them two times in the last month.
• The Canadiens will be without defenceman and highest-paid player Noah Dobson. He’s out with an upper-body injury.
• Alexandre Carrier missed the final nine games of the season with an upper-body injury, but he’s ready to rejoin the lineup.
• Goaltender Jakub Dobes is expected to get the call in nets.
• Forward Brendan Gallagher will likely be a healthy scratch, based on the lines in practice.
• Captain Nick Suzuki and wife Caitlin welcomed their first child last week.
• The Lightning will be without their captain, defenceman Victor Hedman. But he could return later in the series.

Stay tuned to this page for updates and highlights throughout the game. You can also keep the conversation going over on our livestream on the Hockey Inside Out YouTube channel.

First Period: Habs open scoring

Montreal Canadiens fans gather ahead of a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Thunder Alley outside of Benchmark International Arena on Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Tampa. Jefferee Woo / Tampa Bay Times

After a quiet first period, Josh Anderson opened scoring at 13:24. Alexandre Carrier assisted. 1-0 Canadiens

Jakub Dobes was sharp in goal, stopping Erik Cernak in the slot. The Canadiens did run into penalty trouble in the period, with Kaiden Guhle taking a double-minor, partially offset by Brandon Hagel penalty.

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