The Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning are all set to face each other for the first time in a playoff match since the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. The playoff history between the two teams is heavily tilted in the Bolts’ favor. Can the Canadiens finally redeem themselves this time around?
On the face of it, it does not sound impossible, given how Montreal’s young core has fueled a phenomenal comeback. Nonetheless, as valiant as the team’s effort may have been, a former blueliner believes that there are two reasons why they will not be able to keep up with the Lightning.
Chris Pronger Explains Why Tampa Bay Lightning May Emerge Victorious vs. Montreal Canadiens
Along with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres, the Canadiens are up there as surprise packages this year. The Habs steadily dominated the upper rungs of the Atlantic Division, and even when they fell into a slump, they corrected themselves in time and got right back on track.
The Canadiens finished the season with 106 points, the same as the Lightning. In fact, the Habs dealt Tampa huge losses in the last two regulation games between the teams on March 31 and April 9. Nonetheless, Chris Pronger believes that Noah Dobson’s injury and the Bolts’ extensive playoff experience will adversely impact the Canadiens’ odds in the first round.
Actually no I just think the injury to Dobson is an issue and the experience of TB will get them past the Habs. Really like their team and can see them getting to the another level next season.
— Chris Pronger (@chrispronger) April 19, 2026
Noah Dobson suffered an upper-body injury while blocking a shot in the second period of the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 11. Dobson, who has accumulated 47 points in 80 games, is third on the team in minutes on ice.
If you zoom out a bit, the Canadiens have just two right-shot defensemen, Dobson and Alexandre Carrier.
The Habs will have no option but to solely pin all their hopes on Carrier, who was sidelined since March 29 with an upper-body injury but is expected to play in Game 1 against the Bolts.
As the Canadiens navigate the pesky problem of a right-shot defenseman to sail through high-stakes playoff games, one is reminded that management had strongly considered addressing this roster hole at the trade deadline but ultimately decided against it. Cut to present day, that gap in the lineup is all too glaring.
Furthermore, as energetic and driven as Montreal’s young core may be, Pronger believes the team will be at a disadvantage because it lacks the Lightning’s extensive playoff experience.
As dim as the Canadiens’ chances against the Bolts seem at the moment to the former defenseman, he also believes that the Habs can shatter all expectations and reach new heights in the very next season.
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