MONTREAL – For the second time in as many seasons, the Canadiens and Lightning will meet in the playoffs.
The Habs’ second round opponent was confirmed on Wednesday night following a Detroit-Tampa Bay quarterfinal series that needed a deciding Game 7 to be solved. Braydon Coburn was the difference-maker at Amalie Arena, scoring the game-winning goal to send the Lightning beyond the opening round for the first time since 2010-11, when the Bolts bowed out to the Bruins in the Eastern Conference final.
The Canadiens and Lightning meet for just the third time in the postseason since the NHL expanded to Tampa in 1992, having previously faced off in both 2004 and 2014.