Canadiens vs. Lightning live updates: 2026 NHL playoffs Game 7 start time, picks and predictions

Greetings, hockey fans! Welcome to The Athletic’s live coverage of tonight’s Game 7 between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.This is it. One game. Do or die. The phrase "Game " makes up the two greatest words in sports. Tonight, the hockey world gets another first-round Game 7 in arguably one of the closest playoff series in Stanley Cup playoff history.Not much is separating the Canadiens and Lightning, which should make tonight’s contest in Tampa compelling.Follow here for live news, updates, analysis and play-by-play commentary throughout pregame, from puck drop to final whistle, and through the postgame fallout.