The Montreal Canadiens faced the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, looking to establish a commanding 2-0 lead in the first round series.

The Habs were never able to take the lead, with the Lightning ultimately emerging with a 3–2 overtime victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

always so smooth

It’s legitimately impressive how sticky the power is at every shift. Not only do they initiate most of the ugly things, but they also behave as if punishing them for their obvious stupidity was some kind of cardinal sin.

Corey Perry epitomizes this lizard-like approach to logic. He constantly seeks out younger opponents, and when they inform him that they have no interest in sharing his oysters, which are almost certainly a mixture of old chili and Mister Beast-branded snacks, he becomes very, very upset.

Perry was in the box as the Canadiens tied the game in the first period, a good reminder that the best way to make the Lightning pay is to score whenever the shenanigans unfold.

It was a player named Len Hutson, whom Perry had attempted to tackle in a recent game, who scored the game-tying goal.

This is what you want to see, especially since power starts making ugly messes at every single change. Make them pay for their stupidity.

#GoHabsGo Tie the game via a Len Hutson powerplay goal. pic.twitter.com/dXTZC5FOKA

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 21 April 2026

adapt and overcome

If you watched the first half of the game on ESPN, you may have got the impression that the Lightning were the dominant team, but that’s far from the truth when it comes to the aspects of the game that really matter.

While the Lightning focused on the ugly, the Canadiens controlled the shots and high-danger scoring opportunities at 5v5.

It’s not a great way to play hockey for Tampa Bay, but it’s a clear path to success for the Canadians as long as they continue to focus on hockey rather than extracurricular activities.

For example, when Juraj Slafkowski fought Brandon Hagel he inspired the Lightning and delivered a powerful punch to his opponent midway through the second period. This was far from an ideal situation and the Hubs should avoid moving forward.

SportLogic had the Canadiens winning 88 per cent of puck battles in the first period.

– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) 22 April 2026

missed opportunity

With the game heating up in the physical department, the Canadiens had a perfect chance to establish their first lead, but veteran center Philippe Danault failed to take advantage of a wide-open net. It should also be noted that Jake Evans has been quietly having a solid series considering his limited usage.

Philippe Danault missed the wide open net. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/2sWHrr9AlE

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

trailer park lube

At the risk of being labeled a complainer, which wouldn’t be a bad name given the tone of this article, the Lightning’s sleekness was impossible to ignore.

It’s not just that they constantly take dirty shots after the whistle, but also that they behave like surprised Pikachu when the referee gives a clear penalty.

Then there is diving.

Kucherov flies out, Guhle leaves for hooking. pic.twitter.com/uyqw2aLrQK

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

And if that doesn’t lead to a goal on the power play, someone like Taylor Raddish will obviously dive in, and the officials will be upset if they don’t catch it. This is ugly, cowardly and confusing hockey at its best.

On the other side of the coin, you could argue that this has led to plenty of success in the past, but you’d be hard-pressed to suggest that there was any legitimate reason to add an extra dose of showboating to the mix on Tuesday.

laugh out loud

Raddish looks at the referee as he falls after feeling contact.

And then he got upset that no call came. pic.twitter.com/kvNfVSSAWz

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

Most importantly, while the Lightning focused on roughhousing after the whistle, the Canadiens focused on creating quality scoring chances.

They had an 11–4 advantage in high-danger scoring chances during 40 minutes of play, including Josh Anderson’s second goal of the series, which gave the Canadiens a very fragile one-goal lead.

josh anderson gives #GoHabsGo 2-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/1CJ7VvARC8

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

The weakness was confirmed in the third period, when Kucherov scored his first playoff goal in three years to tie the game.

Slafkowski’s no-look pass through the middle of the ice was the catalyst for the scoring play.

JJ Moser is a hero in Tampa pic.twitter.com/LxCIv9NkWo

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 22 April 2026

target setting

As was the case in Game One, the score was tied after the end of regulation, much to everyone’s delight, necessitating another chance at playoff overtime hockey.

The Lightning were several times better than the Habs to start the extra frame.

Yes, the Canadiens were pretty erratic, but we’d be taking a lot of deserved credit away from Tampa Bay by simply suggesting that it was Montreal that struggled to find its rhythm.

Luckily for the Canadians, Jacob Dobbs had big leads on a few occasions, but it was not enough to stop the momentum, as the Bolts ultimately emerged with a 3–2 overtime victory.

Big Savings!

Jacob Dobbs saved the day in overtime. pic.twitter.com/BOgpVG0b8M

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Friday as they face the Lightning at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Detroit Pistons fans are excited about their team’s potential playoff success after Friday night’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Detroit is enjoying a strong campaign as one of the best teams in the entire league. They picked up an overtime win over Cleveland, which continues to hold its place in the East standings with back-to-back games.

Fans came in large numbers to react to the game and were positive towards a win, expecting a better performance. Here are some of their reactions.

One fan said, “Great win! Both teams advanced. The Cavs were missing Donovan Mitchell and a few others while our Pistons are still missing Isaiah Stewart.”

“I didn’t enjoy going to OT against a shorthanded Cavs team. But… at the same time we enjoyed the win even though we were shorthanded. Boys fight when it counts. And those who play hard get the wins. #DetroitBasketball,” another commented.

One commented, “Celebrate the wins, but hang on. Every dub is proof that opportunity came with preparation. Stack ’em up, stay humble and keep building the scoreboard, it only tells part of the story. The work continues.”

“What a comeback victory,” one replied.

One fan said, “The win came and JB benched LeVert for Sasser, I prayed for times like this.”

How did the Pistons play against the Cavaliers?

Pistons fans can expect more from their team after defeating the Cavaliers. Nonetheless, the playoff bar remains high for them.

Five players scored in double figures for Detroit in the win. Jalen Duren dominated with a performance of 33 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. He shot 11 of 19 from the field and 11 of 15 from the free-throw line. Cade Cunningham finished second with 25 points and 10 rebounds, Ausner Thompson had 18 points and eight rebounds, Ronald Holland II put up 12 points and three rebounds, while Tobias Harris provided 11 points and six steals.

Detroit improved to a 44–14 record on the season and topped the Eastern Conference standings. They are 5.5 games up on the Boston Celtics and seven games up on the New York Knicks.

The Pistons look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will face the Orlando Magic as tip-off takes place on March 1 at 6 PM ET.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Without three of their top four scorers, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cleveland Cavs – 121-113 – at Paycom Center on Sunday. The defending champions took a 28-5 lead in the opening frame. Without the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the starters took advantage of defensive stops and elite shooting as Oklahoma City drained eight of its 21 threes in the first quarter.

In regards to who would guard Mitchell and Harden, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault revealed that the defensive assignment of Lou Dort over Mitchell won a 6–5 vote among his coaching staff. Cason Wallace spent most of the game facing Harden. Mitchell scored 20 points, but it took him nearly 20 attempts (9 of 19) to get there, as he was 0 of 6 from deep.

Harden scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, nine assists and five rebounds. Wallace finished with 20 points with a career-high 10 assists and recorded his first double-double and three steals. Isaiah Joe’s 22 points led seven Thunder players into double figures, including Dort (12 points, two steals) and Oklahoma City’s entire starting lineup.

The defending champions’ strong defense forced 17 Cavs turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 31 points en route to an eight-point victory.

Cason Wallace shows off his signature performance in Thunder’s win

Thunder guard Cason Wallace understands the assignment ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cavs. Before facing one of the league’s highest scoring backcourts in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. And while the Thunder’s newest guards in Jared McCann and Nicola Topic have gotten acclimated to their new surroundings, Wallace has helped fill the void left after losing All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.

After the game, Wallace spoke to the media On his outlook ahead of the Thunder’s matinee matchup against the Cavs.

“I come into the game knowing that I have a high-level opponent that I have to guard against, you know, compete for minutes with him,” Wallace said. “First I had to slow him down. Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys that are good at making plays. So, I can make some plays myself on offense, but those guys help me a lot on that end.”

Cason Wallace on the Thunder’s offense and OKC’s defense against the Cavs’ Mitchell and Harden: “Felt like we came in warmed up, had a little bit of momentum at the beginning of the game… I’ve got to slow it down first.

Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys who are good at making plays.” pic.twitter.com/U65bg0x2bR

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026

The Thunder will travel to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

North Carolina A&T mounted a miraculous comeback that ended with a game one win, clinching victory in the NBA HBCU Classic.

North Carolina A&T and Hampton, who both compete in the Coastal Athletic Association, were invited to compete in the latest edition of the NBA HBCU Classic. The date and time of the game has changed from previous editions, as the Classic usually takes place on the Saturday afternoon before All-Star Saturday night.

Trent Middleton Jr. for leadership.

North Carolina A&T gets a stop for the W.

Wild finale at the 2026 NBA HBCU Classic presented by @To! pic.twitter.com/5LebfdItHN

– NBA (@NBA) 14 February 2026

The game was still thrilling, and its ending was worthy of the huge stage the NBA gave it. As the clock expired, the Aggies were down 70 to 68. North Carolina A&T guard Trent Middleton Jr. brought the ball upfield and was able to penetrate the defense and hit an acrobatic layup that went through the basket. He was also fouled in the game, resulting in an and-one which he ultimately converted at the free-throw line.

With 4.5 seconds left, Hampton still had a chance to cruise to the win. But Jalike Gaines-Wyatt’s floater went out and the Aggies prevailed. Gaines-Wyatt and forward Xavier Long both had 17 points for Hampton, who looked like they would go on and secure the win. For the Aggies, Middleton Jr. tallied 15 points, including the game-clinching one, and Lewis Walker had 18 points, with Will Felton contributing 12 points off the bench.

With the win, North Carolina A&T has snapped a four-game losing streak and are set to face Charleston on Thursday at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Hampton was on a two-game win streak after defeating Elon and William & Mary, and will host Hofstra on Thursday at 8 p.m., with the game being televised on CBS Sports Network.