Victor Hedman Rejoins Lightning Ahead of Game 1, Not Expected to Play Just one day before the Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens, the team will get their captain back. Coach Jon Cooper said Saturday that Victor Hedman has rejoined the group following a leave of absence and will travel for the series.

The playoff series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens presents a clear contrast in team profiles. Tampa Bay has advantages in scoring, d

The Lightning had their own runaway train in Brandon Hagel, who missed the last two regular-season meetings against the Canadiens but scored twice and was a menace all night. They also got a goal from Darren Raddysh off a bomb on the power play in the first period.

It's all been said and done, a final look at the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning playoffs numbers before the puck drops, on Sunday afternoon at 5:45 PM.

For 76 games, the Bruins had been one of the best third-period, lockdown teams in the National Hockey League. But in Game 77, the dam finally broke, as the Bruins surrendered three straight goals in the third en route to a 3-1 loss to the Lightning.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are under no false illusions after losing the opening clash of their Eastern Conference first-round series.