Lightning stun Canadiens with two-goal blitz in Game 1

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are locked in a tight Game 1 matchup to start the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the Habs who struck first on the road, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. But the veteran Bolts did not let that last for long. The Lightning potted two goals in 29 seconds in the second period to take the lead.

THE LIGHTNING SCORE TWO QUICK GOALS AND TAKE THE LEAD! #STANLEYCUP

: @NHL_On_TNT, @Sportsnet & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/IDTg5O2jcr

— NHL (@NHL) April 19, 2026

The Lightning’s first goal came from Darren Raddysh on the powerplay. The defenseman unleashed one of his patented booming slapshots, beating goalie Jakub Dobes clean. In the regular season, Raddysh scored 22 goals with 10 coming on the powerplay. Just seconds later, Jake Guentzel forced a turnover below the goal line, which Brandon Hagel took to the front of the net. Once he got there, he made no mistake slipping it past Dobes.

This is nothing new for the Lightning, who are in the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season. They won two Stanley Cups at the beginning of the decade, making another Cup Final in 2022. But since that loss to the Colorado Avalanche, they have not advanced out of the first round. An offensive barrage is a good sign for the rest of the postseason.

The Canadiens roared back to take a lead on two goals from Juraj Slavkofsky, who could be the difference in this series. They have not played a playoff game since the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, which was also against the Lightning. Their team has changed a lot since then, and they are showing how in Game 1.

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