The Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Montreal Canadiens for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round. Here’s how to watch live on TV.
How to Watch Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens on May 1, 2026
You can watch the Montreal Canadiens take on the Tampa Bay Lightning live on DIRECTV on ESPN2 on May 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens — Game 6 Preview
The Montreal Canadiens have a chance to close out their first-round series at Bell Centre on Friday night, having stormed back from a 2-1 deficit to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 5 came down to Alexandre Texier’s go-ahead goal 1:06 into the third period, a 3-2 Montreal win that put the Lightning in full elimination mode. Tampa Bay is facing the prospect of a fourth consecutive first-round exit, a situation that has put the franchise at a crossroads. Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel have been Tampa’s most dangerous players in this series, but Montreal has answered every challenge this week and will be loud at Bell Centre with a closeout opportunity in hand.
Montreal Canadiens lead the series 3-2.
National TV
ESPN
League Packages
NHL® CENTER ICE®
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: Scripps (Lightning). You can also watch with NHL® CENTER ICE®. The game is also available nationally on ESPN2.
Players to Watch: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning
Jake Guentzel — RW. 2 goals and 6 assists (8 points) in the first five games of this series. He has been Tampa’s most productive skater in the postseason and will need another strong performance to force a Game 7 on home ice.
Brandon Hagel — LW. 6 goals and 1 assist (7 points) through five games. His goal-scoring pace in this series has been remarkable, making him the Lightning’s most dangerous finishing threat whenever Tampa sets up in the offensive zone.
Montreal Canadiens
Alexandre Texier — C. Scored the go-ahead goal in Game 5 to give Montreal a 3-2 victory and a stranglehold on the series. He has stepped up in pressure moments and will be a key contributor as the Canadiens push for the close-out win Friday night.
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