Lightning one game from elimination after 3-2 loss to Canadiens in Game 5: Takeaways
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Lightning are one defeat away from their fourth straight opening-round elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference First Round series at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday night. Alexandre Texier’s goal 1:06 into the third period broke a 2-2 tie and the Canadiens’ defense and goaltender Jakub Dobes combined to do the rest. The defense held the Lightning without a shot on goal for more than 10 minutes after Texier’s goal put Montreal ahead.
Dobes made eight of his 38 saves in the final two minutes after the Lightning pulled goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for an extra attacker. The Canadiens can close out the best-of-7 series by winning Game 6 before what’s sure to be a raucous full house at Bell Centre on Friday. Kucherov can't convert on a HUGE chance and Texier gives the Habs the lead on the other end 😳 (🎥: @espn ) pic.
twitter. com/DS3XhCVzlt — BarDown (@BarDown) April 30, 2026 Montreal never trailed, getting an early goal from Brendan Gallagher and a goal by Kirby Dach in the second period just 11 seconds after the Lightning tied the game on a goal by Dominic James. Jake Guentzel tied the game 2-2 late in the second period.
The Lightning had an excellent chance early in the third before Texier fired a shot from the left circle that hit Vasilevskiy’s glove and deflected into the net. Tampa Bay is trying to avoid being eliminated from the playoffs in the opening round for the fourth consecutive year. The Bolts haven’t won a series since defeating the New York Rangers in six games to win the 2022 Eastern Conference Final.
They lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final and haven’t gotten past the first round since then. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Canadiens had plenty of jump from the opening face-off, pushing the play and nearly scoring 26 seconds in — Vasilevskiy came up big by stopping rookie Ivan Demidov from close range. But the Canadiens kept pushing and got on the board at the 3-minute mark.
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