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Fans react outside the Bell Centre in Montreal during Game 6 between the Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 1, 2026. John Kenney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\nDefenceman Mike Matheson can relate to fans who might have felt like they were on the verge of having a heart attack watching the Canadiens lose 1-0 in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night at the Bell Centre.<\/p>\n
Gage Goncalves scored at 9:03 of OT to even the best-of-seven series 3-3 and force Game 7 Sunday in Tampa (6 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports).<\/p>\n
Fans react outside the Bell Centre in Montreal during Game 6 between the Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 1, 2026. John Kenney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper described Game 6 as \u201cepic\u201d and he was right with Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy making 30 saves and the Canadiens\u2019 Jakub Dobes stopping 32 shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely exciting,\u201d the Canadiens\u2019 Matheson said after the game. \u201cWe were able to generate a lot of chances and credit to their goalie. Both goalies played really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matheson, who logged 28:47 of ice time, is happy he was playing in the game and not watching as a fan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so much worse watching it, for sure,\u201d he said. \u201cI lived that with my wife through her career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matheson\u2019s wife, Emily Pfalzer,<\/a> won a gold medal as a defenceman with Team USA at the 2018 PyeongChang\u00a0Olympics, beating Canada 3-2 in a shootout in the final game. She also won gold medals at the IIHF Women\u2019s World Championships in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. Matheson met his future wife, who is from Buffalo, when they were both playing hockey at Boston College.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a mess every time when she was in the Olympics,\u201d Matheson said. \u201cI could barely watch. There\u2019s something about not having control over it. But I think when you\u2019re on the ice you\u2019re just so focused that the nerves don\u2019t hit you as much.\u201d<\/p>\n The Canadiens are the youngest team in the playoffs, but they remained composed throughout the Game 6 loss.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did,\u201d Matheson said. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy to come into this building and know how excited our fan base is and want it so badly to be able to stay composed like that. I was really happy with our group. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not surprised that it\u2019s ending up in Game 7 and we have a lot of confidence that we can go down there and find a win.\u201d<\/p>\n The Canadiens have won two of the first three games in Tampa during this series.<\/p>\n Wheels up to Tampa<\/p>\n The Canadiens flight to Tampa for Game 7 left from the Montreal Metropolitan Airport in St-Hubert at noon Saturday.<\/p>\n Before boarding the flight, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis spoke with media members who were there.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not here for a ribbon,\u201d St. Louis said. \u201cWe want to move on. I think we\u2019ve proved that this is where we are now. We worked to get to this spot. You play a Tampa in the first round and you know you\u2019re going to need everything and we\u2019ve delivered that. It\u2019s to keep going. It\u2019s a good spot to be in and I think the guys have enjoyed the process and also are hungry to keep moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the guys are very confident that we can get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n Dobes continues to shine<\/p>\n It looked like the Lightning would have a big edge in goaltending heading into this series with the veteran Vasilevskiy \u2014 who has two Stanley Cup rings from 2020 and 2021 \u2014 going up against the rookie Dobes.<\/p>\n It hasn\u2019t worked out that way.<\/p>\n After six games, Dobes has a .916 save percentage, while Vasilevskiy\u2019s is .905. The 24-year-old Dobes has allowed three or less goals in 18 of his last 20 games. During that 20-game stretch, Dobes has stopped 542 of 588 shots for a .922 save percentage.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been amazing,\u201d Matheson said about Dobes after Game 6. \u201cSo solid. He battles so much. I think it gives us a lot of energy. Again, tonight, he was really good.\u201d<\/p>\n Defenceman Alexandre Carrier said he likes the way the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Dobes comes out of his net to challenge shooters.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s huge,\u201d Carrier said. \u201cYou can see when he gets out of his net he\u2019s got confidence and it shows when he does stuff like that he\u2019s really in his game and he\u2019s focused. He\u2019s been solid all series long. As a defenceman, you feel comfortable with him, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Carrier was asked if he\u2019s still confident when Dobes wanders out of his net and starts handling the puck, which can sometimes be an adventure.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I like him better when he\u2019s in net,\u201d Carrier said with a chuckle. \u201cBut it just shows I think when he makes plays like that that he\u2019s really in a zone.\u201d<\/p>\n Where does Carrier think Dobes has improved the most over the course of this season?<\/p>\n \u201cOh, boy. He would know more than me,\u201d Carrier said with another chuckle in a media scrum while pointing at former NHL goalie Patrick Lalime, who now works for TVA Sports. \u201cI just feel like he\u2019s been playing amazing and just his confidence level.\u201d<\/p>\n An epic shift for Danault<\/p>\n Phillip Danault has shown during this series why Canadiens GM Kent Hughes was willing to give up a second-round pick at this year\u2019s NHL Draft just before Christmas to bring him back to Montreal for a second stint after the veteran centre had spent the last four-and-a-half years with the Los Angeles Kings.<\/p>\n Danault was on the ice for the final 3:31 of the Canadiens\u2019 3-2 win over the Lightning in Game 5 Wednesday night in Tampa. In Game 6, Danault saved a goal with just over 14 minutes left in the second period when the puck got past Dobes, but Danault was in position to stop it on the goal line.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope he\u2019s going to bring experience,\u201d Hughes said after trading for Danault. \u201cHe\u2019s been here before. I think people in this market know what he is as a hockey player.\u201d <\/p>\n Danault was thrilled to come back to Montreal and happy that Hughes had confidence in him.<\/p>\n \u201cThey knew exactly what they were going to get from me,\u201d said Danault, who has won 56.5 per cent of his faceoffs in the six games against Tampa to go along with one assist. \u201cObviously, it wasn\u2019t the scoring touch, necessarily. That\u2019s not what they needed. But defensively, all the little details when it matters the most, playoffs as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Danault said he never even looked at the bench to see if St. Louis wanted to take him off the ice at some point during the final 3:31 of Game 5.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t even look at Marty,\u201d Danault said with a grin. \u201cI didn\u2019t notice the shift going three minutes. I was just in my zone. It\u2019s my bread and butter, kind of. It was just awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n It really was.<\/p>\n Danault is happy to be playing playoff games at a sold-out Bell Centre. In 2021, only 3,500 fans were allowed at the Bell Centre for the Stanley Cup final games because of provincial health regulations during the COVID pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so electric and so proud to be here and play for this organization in front of those fans,\u201d Danault said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been unbelievable. There\u2019s no better crowd than this, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Praise for St. Louis<\/p>\n Danault said he loves playing for St. Louis, who is a lot different from Dominique Ducharme, who was head coach of the Canadiens at the end of Danault\u2019s first tenure with the Canadiens that ended with a Stanley Cup final loss to the Lightning in 2021.<\/p>\n \u201cHe brings some touch-ups every game on the O-zone or neutral zone, I would say, because it\u2019s all about neutral zone,\u201d Danault said about St. Louis. \u201cHe brings details every game, which I didn\u2019t see in the past. So that means to me he\u2019s watching the game and he\u2019s thinking about the next game and what details he can do against certain teams. Very smart. It\u2019s good to play for a coach like that. I\u2019ve never been part of this.<\/p>\n \u201cThe coaches I had (before) were more old school,\u201d Danault added. \u201cVery straight. Show up to the game and a certain system that we kept following. But Marty is just adjusting every single game. Since I\u2019ve been here, at least, it\u2019s been like that. That\u2019s why as a new player it\u2019s a little harder to come in because there\u2019s so many rules. There\u2019s certain rules you got to repsect, but then every game there\u2019s a new one. So it\u2019s hard to adjust, but once you do it it\u2019s really awesome.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a players\u2019 coach, but has high, high expectations for his players. That\u2019s the way it should be and he wants to win. Very dedicated, very passionate about the game. I don\u2019t think he would be doing that (coaching) if he had no passion about the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Say what?<\/p>\n The Bell Centre has been incredibly loud for the Canadiens\u2019 three home games against the Lightning, which can make it difficult for players to communicate on the ice.<\/p>\n Late in the second period of Game 4 \u2014 which the Canadiens lost 3-2 \u2014 Juraj Slafkovsky was flattened near centre ice by a huge hit from the Lightning\u2019s Max Crozier.<\/p>\n Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki yelled out to warn Slafkovsky about the coming hit, but it was hard to hear.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty loud,\u201d Slafkovsky said before Game 6. \u201cI kind of knew the guy was there. I kind of heard Suzy. But I was so committed to going there and just ended up being a big one.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got a good hit,\u201d Slafkovsky added. \u201cGood for the guy. He doesn\u2019t play much, so maybe it makes him play a little more. But gotta take it. It doesn\u2019t matter if I get hit or anything, it\u2019s (about) how I come back. I just wanna keep playing hard the same way. I think it\u2019s all good.\u201d<\/p>\n Slafkovsky scored three power-play goals \u2014 including the overtime winner \u2014 in the Canadiens\u2019 4-3 Game 1 victory in Tampa, but he hasn\u2019t scored since. After going 3-for-5 on the power play in Game 1, the Canadiens are 2-for-19 in the last five games with the man advantage.<\/p>\n The Canadiens\u2019 No. 1 line of Suzuki, Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield has yet to score a goal at five-on-five in the series. Caufield has one power-play goal, while Suzuki has yet to score. All three of them are minus-5 for the series.<\/p>\n Carrier said the loud crowd at the Bell Centre can make it difficult for defencemen.<\/p>\n \u201cJust to talk in the D zone and on the PK sometimes,\u201d he said before Game 6. \u201cBut it\u2019s part of the game. It\u2019s for them, too, as well. So it\u2019s fair for everybody. <\/p>\n \u201cObviously, we don\u2019t want our fans to be quiet tonight, we want them to be super loud,\u201d Carrier added. \u201cIt\u2019s part of the game, but it is sometimes you say something (on the ice) and you come back to the bench and you communicate and he didn\u2019t hear you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hutson can play defence<\/p>\n Lane Hutson\u2019s offensive talents are obvious, but the 5-foot-9, 162-pound defenceman has proved this season and in the playoffs he can also play solid defence.<\/p>\n Hutson won the Calder Trophy as the NHL\u2019s top rookie last season after posting 6-60-66 totals and a minus-2 differential. This season, while playing in all 82 games for the second straight year, he posted 12-66-78 totals and was plus-36, which ranked seventh among NHL defencemen.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s one thing,\u201d St. Louis said when asked where Hutson\u2019s defensive play has improved the most this season, \u201cI feel like he has such a high, high compete level and a high, high intelligence. <\/p>\n \u201cIf something happens to him once, he learns from it quick and it doesn\u2019t happen again,\u201d St. Louis added about Hutson, who logged a team-high 30:46 of ice time in Game 6. \u201cTo me, game to game, he\u2019s been a big part of our success. But, overall, I would say what impresses me most with Lane is his compete level.\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Byng winner?<\/p>\n The NHL announced Thursday that Caufield is one of three finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy, which goes to the player who \u201cexhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.\u201d It is voted on by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.<\/p>\n Caufield finished the season with 51-37-88 totals and only 14 penalty minutes. The two other finalists are Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar and Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson.<\/p>\n \u201cKent (Hughes) told me yesterday on the plane,\u201d Caufield said after Friday\u2019s morning skate. \u201cIt was pretty cool. Told the card table. Had a good laugh about it, or whatever, and just kind of on to the next thing. But pretty cool and honoured to get that recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n Kopitar, playing in his 20th and final NHL season, has already won the Lady Byng Trophy three times. Caufield wouldn\u2019t mind seeing the Kings captain win it a fourth time.<\/p>\n Your Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalists are\u2026 ? #NHLAwards<\/a><\/p>\n The trophy is presented annually to the player judged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. pic.twitter.com\/wsCXBieTLB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHL (@NHL) April 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty special, a guy like that who\u2019s won it before,\u201d Caufield said. \u201cA guy that kind of is the perfect name and example for that kind of award. Hopefully, he can win it for his last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Caufield is hoping he can beat Hutson when it comes to growing a playoff beard.<\/p>\n \u201cI got a head start, but it needs to be a little heavier, yeah,\u201d Caufield said with a chuckle. \u201cI got Lane \u2026 not a lot of other guys I can beat.\u201d<\/p>\n If Caufield can score in Game 7 against the Lightning that would definitely help his chances of filling out that beard.<\/p>\n Additions to lineups?<\/p>\n It will be interesting to see if Noah Dobson is in the lineup for the Canadiens in Game 7 and if fellow defenceman Victor Hedman joins the Lightning.<\/p>\n Dobson hasn\u2019t played in the series because of a thumb injury, while Hedman hasn\u2019t played since March 19 for personal reasons.<\/p>\n Before Game 6, Cooper was asked about Hedman\u2019s status.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard for me to sit here and say whether he\u2019s going to play in the series or not,\u201d the Lightning coach said. \u201cThis has the maximum of two games left. \u2026 Our anticipation is that our season isn\u2019t going to end tonight. So take it for what it is, but he\u2019s not playing tonight.<\/p>\n \t\tEditor\u2019s Picks\t<\/p>\n \u201cI would never put a player into a situation where the player wasn\u2019t 100-per-cent comfortable,\u201d Cooper added. \u201cMe being coy with the media, that\u2019s a completely different story. But when it comes to players that haven\u2019t played in a while, that have been hurt, we go through a whole checklist here and the player has to be completely comfortable with playing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dobson took part in the Canadiens\u2019 morning skate Friday at the Bell Centre, but didn\u2019t play in Game 6.<\/p>\n Long run of success<\/p>\n The Lightning are in the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, including back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2021 Stanley Cup final. The Lightning also lost the 2015 Stanley Cup final to the Chicago Blackhawks.<\/p>\n When Cooper was asked about his team\u2019s long run of success ahead of Game 6 against the Canadiens, he said: \u201cIt started here.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lightning were swept by the Canadiens in the first round of the 2014 playoffs. The next season, the Lightning beat the Canadiens in six games in the second round en route to their Stanley Cup final loss to the Blackhawks.<\/p>\n The Lightning have lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and Cooper also spoke ahead of Game 6 against the Canadiens about how hard it is to win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s be honest,\u201d he said. \u201cThe percentage of winning a Stanley Cup when you start the year for some I think as a high it\u2019s like 8 per cent. And for some teams that just snuck into the playoffs this year it was way less than that. <\/p>\n \u201cDo we have an analytics guy here that can tell us that?\u201d Cooper added with a smirk. \u201cSo it\u2019s super-hard to win and you get here and everyone\u2019s like \u2018How come you\u2019re not (winning)?\u2019 Yeah, because the chances of you winning are like slim. You have to start giving yourself a chance. We give ourselves a chance by making the playoffs. We\u2019re not giving ourselves a chance when we get bumped in the first round and we have of late, which has been unusual for us. That\u2019s not in our MO for a long time prior to last couple of years.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s look-in-the-mirror time \u2014 and I\u2019m included in that. It\u2019s not just the core group. I consider myself in that core, too. And so we need to look in the mirror here.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lightning and Canadiens are now looking at Game 7.<\/p>\n![\"Canadiens'](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777760361_694_0503-spt-col-cowan-2.jpg\")
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes freezes the puck during the epic Game 6 at the Bell Centre on Friday night, May 1, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n![\"Hockey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0502-spt-habs_302893698.jpg\")
Canadiens\u2019 Phillip Danault reaches back to keep the puck from crossing the goal line after Tampa Bay Lightning shot on goalie Jakub Dobe\u0161 in Game 6 of the National Hockey League playoff series in Montreal on Friday, May 1, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n![\"Canadiens](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0502-spt-habs_302895636.jpg\")
Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis watches overtime of Game 6 of the National Hockey League playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal on Friday, May 1, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n![\"Hockey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0502-spt-habs_302894790-1.jpg\")
Canadiens\u2019 Lane Hutson is surrounded Tampa Bay Lightning\u2019s Ryan McDonagh, Brandon Hagel, Emil Lilleberg and Anthony Cirelli in Game 6 of the National Hockey League playoff series in Montreal on Friday, May 1, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n![\"Canadiens](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0502-spt-habs_302892766.jpg\")
Canadiens\u2019 Cole Caufield takes a shot on the Tampa Bay Lightning net after getting behind Brandon Hagel during Game 6 of the National Hockey League playoff series in Montreal on Friday, May 1, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n