Canadiens vs Lightning Live Tonight: Start Time, Streaming Options, Injury Updates & Score Predictions

The Montréal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning square off tonight in a winner-take-all Game 7 after Tampa’s 1-0 overtime escape in Game 6 knotted the first-round series at three apiece. Puck drops at 6 p.m. ET inside Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, with national coverage on TNT, truTV and HBO Max for U.S. viewers and CBC, SN and TVAS in Canada. Why it matters • This is the 202nd Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoff history and the first between these Atlantic Division rivals since 2021, when Tampa ousted Montréal in the Final. • The winner advances to face the top-seeded Florida Panthers later this week. How we got here Andrei Vasilevskiy’s 30-save shutout and rookie Gage Goncalves’ rebound goal at 9:03 of OT on May 1 breathed new life into the Lightning, who had been trailing the series 3-2. Montréal’s youthful core—led by Cole Caufield (4 G, 3 A) and Juraj Slafkovský (3 G, 4 A)—has countered Tampa’s experience every step of the way, outscoring the Bolts 16-15 through six contests. Key storylines to watch 1. Blue-line bruises: Lightning stalwart Victor Hedman remains sidelined with an upper-body injury, leaving Mikhail Sergachev to anchor Tampa’s top pair once again. Montréal may insert rookie Logan Mailloux if veteran David Savard (illness) can’t go. 2. Goaltending duel: Vasilevskiy (.938 SV%) and Canadiens netminder Samuel Montembeault (.932 SV%) have traded momentum-changing stops; whoever wins the crease battle tonight likely wins the series. 3. Special teams swing: Tampa’s power play is just 2-for-17, while Montréal’s penalty kill has clicked at 88.2%. Conversely, the Canadiens’ man advantage is 4-for-22, and the Lightning own two short-handed goals. Projected lines (last game) Lightning: Stamkos – Point – Kucherov | Killorn – Cirelli – Goncalves | Jeannot – Paul – Hagel | Maroon – Glendening – Eyssimont Canadiens: Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovský | Anderson – Dach – Harvey-Pinard | R. Smith – Monahan – Gallagher | Armia – Evans – Pezzetta Odds & betting nuggets • Tampa is a –145 home favorite; the over/under sits at 5.5 goals. • Montréal is 7-3 in its last 10 playoff games decided by one goal, while the Lightning are 5-1 in their last six Game 7 appearances. How to stream Cord-cutters can watch via Sling TV, DirecTV Stream or Max; Canadian fans can stream on Sportsnet+ or CBC Gem. International viewers should check NHL.tv blackout restrictions. Bottom line Momentum has swung wildly, but Game 7s reward composure. If the Lightning’s championship pedigree shines through, Tampa could punch a ticket to Round 2; if Montréal’s emerging stars stay loose under the bright lights, the NHL may witness its latest coming-of-age upset.