The NHL slate on Tuesday includes a showdown between the Tampa Bay Lightning (46-21-6) and the Montreal Canadiens (42-21-10), starting at 7 p.m. ET at Benchmark International Arena and broadcast on ESPN+. The Lightning are first in the Eastern Conference (98 points), and the Canadiens are fourth in the Eastern Conference (94 points).

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Lightning vs. Canadiens: March 31 Viewing Options

Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. ET
How to watch on TV: ESPN+
Location: Tampa, Florida
Venue: Benchmark International Arena
Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Lightning’s 2025-26 Stats

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Lightning vs. Canadiens Top Players

Lightning

With 40 goals and 81 assists this season, Nikita Kucherov is one of Tampa Bay’s leading contributors (121 points).
Jake Guentzel is another of Tampa Bay’s top contributors currently with 80 total points (35 goals and 45 assists) to his name.
On 200 shots (for 35 goals) and 38 assists, Brandon Hagel has recorded 73 points this season.
As Tampa Bay’s top goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy has recorded 35 wins and 12 losses this season while giving up 117 goals with 1,192 saves.
Canadiens

Nicholas Suzuki has collected 26 goals and 65 assists in 73 games for Montreal, good for 91 points.
Cole Caufield is a key piece of the offense for Montreal with 79 total points this season. He has scored 46 goals and added 33 assists in 72 games.
Lane Hutson has posted 11 goals on the season, adding 62 assists.
Jakub Dobes has a 25-8-4 record this season, with a .900 save percentage (25th in the league). He has 900 saves, and has allowed 100 goals (2.8 goals against average).
Lightning vs. Canadiens Injury Report

Lightning

Declan Carlile: Out (Undisclosed),

Max Crozier: Out (Abdomen),

Dominic James: Out (Leg),

Victor Hedman: Out (Illness),

Nikita Kucherov: Day-To-Day (Illness)

Canadiens

Kirby Dach: Out (Upper Body),

Patrik Laine: Out (Lower Body),

Alexandre Texier: Day-To-Day (Lower Body),

Josh Anderson: Day-To-Day (Illness)

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Lightning’s Schedule