Canadiens Lightning Hockey

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) reacts after the team lost to the Montréal Canadiens in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Tampa, Fla.

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Lightning on the brink of elimination after another home playoff loss

Lightning on the brink of elimination after another home playoff loss

Another home loss in the playoffs has the Tampa Bay Lightning on the brink of an early vacation again. Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed a fluke goal on the day he was nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the offense struggled to win face-offs, lucky bounces went the other way and the Lightning lost to the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Wednesday night to fall behind 3-2 in the series. Game 6 is Friday night in Montreal. The Lightning are facing a fourth straight first-round elimination since falling two wins short of a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022.