The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are heating up, and the Eastern Conference first-round series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens is tied at one game apiece! Game 3 shifts north of the border to the electrifying Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2026. If you are wondering how to catch every second of the action, here is your ultimate guide to TV channels, streaming, and how to navigate those pesky blackouts.
TV Channels, Streaming Options & Regional Blackouts Explained
Puck drop is officially scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT on Friday, April 24, 2026.
In the USA: You can watch the game nationally on TNT. Cord-cutters can stream the broadcast live via Max (with the B/R Sports Add-On) or through streaming TV providers like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV. Local broadcasts may also be available on Bally Sports Sun for the Tampa market.
In Canada: The game will be broadcast nationwide on CBC and Sportsnet in English, and TVA Sports in French. Canadian fans can stream the game seamlessly using Sportsnet+.
Regional Blackouts Explained: During the first round of the NHL playoffs, local Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) in the US often share broadcast rights with national networks. If you live within the Tampa Bay local broadcast region, the national TNT feed might be blacked out in favor of your local Bally Sports Sun feed. However, if you are out-of-market or streaming via an authorized national provider without a local RSN overlap, you won’t have to worry about blackouts. In Canada, playoff games broadcast on Sportsnet and CBC are generally exempt from regional blackouts.
Game 2 Recap & Playoff Leading Scorers
This series has been an absolute thriller. After Montreal took Game 1, Tampa Bay fought back in Game 2 with a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory, courtesy of an OT game-winner from J.J. Moser. Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel also found the back of the net for the Bolts, while Josh Anderson and Lane Hutson scored for the Habs.
Heading into Game 3 of the 2026 playoffs, the leading scorers are setting the pace:
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Jake Guentzel (4 points) and Brandon Hagel (3 goals, 1 assist) are driving the offense.
- Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki (3 points) and Juraj Slafkovský (3 points) are leading the charge for the Habs.
Key Injuries: Tampa Bay is currently battling a massive loss on the blue line, as superstar defenseman Victor Hedman remains doubtful for the series due to personal reasons.
Betting Odds & My Game 3 Prediction
The betting odds currently sit at Tampa Bay -122 with the Over/Under set at 5.5 goals.
Personally, I’m looking closely at the Under for this matchup. Vasilevskiy and Dobes have both been making spectacular saves, and without Hedman pushing the pace from the back end for Tampa, I expect the Lightning to play a highly structured, defensive game to quiet the raucous Bell Centre crowd. I’ve watched Tampa grind out tight road playoff games for years, and my gut tells me they sneak away with a gritty 2-1 or 3-2 victory. I’m confidently backing the Bolts on the moneyline at -122, but expecting a low-scoring, physical battle that stays under 5.5 goals.
Finding the Montreal Canadiens on TV Today & More
If you’re looking for where to find the Montreal Canadiens on TV today or want to check out the upcoming Tampa Bay Lightning TV schedule, be sure to bookmark our homepage. We also have full coverage of the NHL point leaders for the 2025-26 season so you can see who took home the regular-season hardware. Don’t forget to join our exclusive online hockey pool for cash prizes on our website—it’s not too late to get in on the playoff action!
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