The Tampa Bay Lightning are turning to a road-style routine at home as they prepare for a decisive Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.
According to Pierre LeBrun, the Lightning stayed in a nearby hotel before the game, trying to recreate the mindset that helped them win twice in Montreal. That shift in routine reflects how tight this series has been, with all six games decided by a single goal.
"The Lightning slept at a nearby hotel last night. Two road wins in Montreal. Perhaps want to re-create that road mentality for Game 7 tonight ?" LeBrun wrote on X.
Tampa forced Game 7 with a 1–0 overtime win in Game 6. Gage Goncalves scored the winner, while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots for a shutout. The performance once again showed Tampa’s defensive edge in this series so far.
The series has seen four overtime games, showing little separation between the teams. Montreal’s rookie goalie Jakub Dobes has held firm throughout, matching Vasilevskiy save for save. On offense, Brandon Hagel leads Tampa’s postseason scoring push, while Cole Caufield remains Montreal’s biggest threat.
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Game 7 will take place at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa at 6:00 p.m. ET. Tampa holds a slight edge in Game 7 history with a 7–3 record, while Montreal stands at 15–9.
The winner advances to face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round.
With no margin for error and every game razor close, Tampa’s decision to lean on a road mindset could potentially play a role in shaping the final outcome.
