For the fourth consecutive NHL playoff series, the Tampa Bay Lightning dropped their first home game.
The Montreal Canadiens rolled into Benchmark International Arena and earned a 4-3 overtime victory on Sunday, April 19, in Game 1 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Although Tampa Bay is making its ninth consecutive postseason appearance, the Lightning have been eliminated in the first round three straight times.
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With Sunday’s game tied at 3 in the third period, Tampa Bay fans invoked their country’s Olympic success to boost the team.
As shared by the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast X account, the arena erupted in “USA! USA!” chants in an attempt to psych out the Montreal players.
The Team USA men’s and women’s hockey teams defeated Canada to win gold medals in February at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Ironically, all three goals scored by the Lightning came from Canadian players. Brandon Hagel scored twice, and Darren Raddysh notched the other tally. Not to mention that Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper led Team Canada during the Olympics.
In fact, one X user pointed out the heavy Canadian presence on the Lightning roster.
Meanwhile, Montreal’s top goal scorer, Cole Caufield, is from Wisconsin. Caufield scored 51 goals, second in the NHL to Nathan MacKinnon’s 53, during the regular season. And it was Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel, an American, who committed a high-sticking penalty late in regulation that gave Montreal a power play into overtime.
Ultimately, the game turned on the hat trick by Slovakian Juraj Slafkovsky. Slafkovsky’s goal one minute, 22 seconds into the extra session handed Montreal the victory.
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Tampa Bay and Montreal each recorded 106 points during the regular season and tied for second place in the Atlantic Division behind the Buffalo Sabres. The Lightning earned home-ice advantage by virtue of their 40 regulation wins. The Canadiens had 34.
Finally, Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET Tuesday at Tampa Bay on ESPN and the ESPN app.