Tampa Bay Lightning to host Game 1 in the first round of playoffs

The Bolts and Montreal Canadiens are set to take the ice at Benchmark International Arena for the first-round series.

TAMPA, Fla. — It’s official — the Tampa Bay Lightning will host Game 1 in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

The team wrapped up the Eastern Conference postseason position with Detroit’s 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers on April 4, helping them qualify for the playoffs. 

On Tuesday, the Lightning secured home-ice advantage after the Montreal Canadiens lost their final regular season game 4-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Lightning are tied with Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division, but the Bolts have secured the tiebreaker thanks to the amount of regulation wins. Both teams are now expected to take the ice at Benchmark International Arena sometime this weekend.

We’ll see you at HOME for Game One!

🎟️ https://t.co/yBxMXU3Sr1 pic.twitter.com/pKMKIm8OM6

— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 15, 2026

In the meantime, the Lightning will close out the regular season Wednesday against the New York Rangers.

And while the date and time for Game 1 have not yet been announced, Bolts fans can bring the thunder and show their team spirit at numerous events kicking off this week, including the Playoff Pep Rally, Playoff Bar Crawl and Lightning Plaza Parties. 

Fans can purchase tickets online on Ticketmaster.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.