The Montreal Canadiens’ strong performance against their division rivals, including a notable winning record over the Tampa Bay Lightning, was a critical factor in their playoff contention last season. While John Cooper’s team no longer holds the Stanley Cup titles from 2020 and 2021, they remain competitive every year.
The Canadiens claimed victory over the Lightning in three out of five matchups last season, edging out Florida-based teams 11-9 in their season series, showcasing their resilience and determination.
The teams first clashed on December 29th, just after the Christmas break. After a 4-0 win against the Florida Panthers, the Canadiens defeated Tampa Bay 5-2. Samuel Montembeault delivered an outstanding performance with 21 saves from 23 shots, backed by goals from Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, and Brendan Gallagher following an early first-period score.
A month later at Bell Centre, the Canadiens displayed grit by staging a comeback from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2. Montembeault made 33 saves, while Andrei Vasilevskiy faced only 22 shots. Patrik Laine assisted on the game-tying goal, and Jake Evans scored the decisive goal early in the third period.
The Lightning fought back in their final April 9th meeting, entering with a 3-6-1 record in their last 10 games. Key Tampa players like Jake Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, Victor Hedman, and Anthony Cirelli each had two points in this game.
A crucial reason for Montreal’s success against Tampa was their ability to limit the Lightning’s top performers, with veterans Guentzel, Hagel, and Cirelli combining for just three points across the three games. Hedman and Nikita Kucherov managed only limited contributions, and Vasilevskiy’s save percentage was a low .889.
Montreal’s depth and team effort also played a major role, especially since Tampa was missing Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki in the series. Veterans like Armia, Dvorak, and Gallagher were key contributors. For this season, the Canadiens will need their star players to step up, as Armia and Dvorak are no longer with the team. New additions Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc have had moderate impact, but only Demidov has the potential to be a game-changer if he finds scoring chemistry in the second line.
Tampa Bay made few offseason roster changes, signing veteran Janni Gurud to a six-year extension. Gurud has historically performed well against the Canadiens, with 15 points in 21 games. The Lightning’s notable move involved trading Isaac Howard, anticipating that Sam O’Reilly would not sign.
Ultimately, for the Canadiens to remain contenders, they must continue to perform strongly against proven winners like Tampa. Success will hinge on top performances from key players like Caufield and Suzuki playing significant roles.
Fan Take: This rivalry highlights how crucial depth and resilience are in the NHL, especially in tight playoff races. For hockey fans, watching these battles unfold showcases the heart of competition and how emerging talents can redefine a team’s future in the sport.
