The Bolts will host the Canadiens at Benchmark International Arena for the first-round series.
TAMPA, Fla. — The National Hockey League (NHL) has revealed the schedule for the opening games of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs — including when the Tampa Bay Lightning will take the ice.
The Bolts will host Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, April 19, at Benchmark International Arena. The time will be announced at the conclusion of the regular season on Thursday.
NHL first round schedule
Saturday, April 18 — Game 1
3 p.m. – Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes5:30 p.m. – Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars8 p.m. – Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins
Sunday, April 19 — Game 1
Time TBD – *Western Conference Wild Card #2 at Colorado Avalanche Time TBD – Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay LightningTime TBD – Boston Bruins at Buffalo SabresTime TBD – Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights
Monday, April 20 – Game 1
Time TBD – *Pacific Division #3 at *Pacific Division #2
Tampa Bay secured home-ice advantage on Tuesday after Montreal lost its final regular-season game 4-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bolts are tied with the Canadiens for second place in the Atlantic Division, but won out in the tiebreaker thanks to the team’s number of regulation wins.
The Lightning have extended their franchise record with a ninth consecutive postseason appearance since the 2017-18 season, tied with Colorado for the longest active streak in the NHL.