The Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Montreal Canadiens for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round.
How to Watch Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens on April 24, 2026
You can watch the Montreal Canadiens take on the Tampa Bay Lightning live on DIRECTV on HBO Max, TNT, truTV and TNT West on April 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens — Game 3 Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens carry a tied series to Bell Centre for Game 3 after each of the first two games was decided in overtime. Both teams had outstanding regular seasons, with Tampa Bay finishing 50-26 and Montreal posting a 48-24 mark in the Atlantic Division. Montreal now hosts back-to-back games and will look to take a series lead in front of their home crowd while the Lightning need to steal at least one on the road to stay in control.
The series is tied 1-1.
National TV
TNT, truTV, TNT West
Streaming
HBO Max
What Time is the Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game Today?
The Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens game starts at 7:00 PM ET.
Where Can I Watch Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens?
You can watch Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens on your local regional sports network: Bally Sports Sun (Tampa Bay Lightning). You can also watch with NHL® CENTER ICE®. The game is also available nationally on TNT and truTV.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens — 2026 Playoffs Series Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 19, 2026 | Final — MTL 4, TBL 3 (OT) | Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | TNT, truTV |
| Game 2 | April 21, 2026 | Final — TBL 3, MTL 2 (OT) | Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | TNT, truTV |
| Game 3 | April 24, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | TNT, truTV, HBO Max |
| Game 4 | April 26, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | ESPN |
| Game 5 | April 29, 2026 | TBD | Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | TBD |
| Game 6* | May 1, 2026 | TBD | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | TBD |
| Game 7* | May 3, 2026 | TBD | Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | TBD |
* If necessary
Players to Watch: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov — Right Wing. 130 points (44G, 86A) this season, second in NHL scoring. The all-time Lightning playoff scoring leader against the Canadiens with 16 points (11G, 5A) in 15 career games against Montreal, making him the key offensive threat in this series.
Andrei Vasilevskiy — Goaltender. Carries a .919 save percentage in six career playoff starts against the Canadiens. His ability to steal games in close series will be critical with both teams scoring at a similar pace through two overtime games.
Montreal Canadiens
Cole Caufield — Left Wing. 51 goals this season, the first Canadiens player to reach 50 goals since Stephane Richer in 1989-90. His shooting volume and power-play presence make him Montreal’s most dangerous offensive weapon.
Nick Suzuki — Center. 101 points (29G, 72A) as team captain this season. Suzuki anchors the Canadiens’ top line with Caufield and controls pace in the offensive zone.
Injury Report: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning
No significant injuries reported.
Montreal Canadiens
No significant injuries reported.
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