TAMPA, Fla. – Make it 10 of 11 the Bolts have lost during the postseason at 401 Channelside Drive. Juraj Slafkovsky’s power play goal 1:22 into the extra session gave Martin St. Louis’ Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 win over the Lightning in the playoff opener Sunday evening at Benchmark International Arena.
In addition to their home woes, Tampa Bay has now lost seven straight and 12 of its last 13 overtime playoff games, an inexplicable run that dates to the 2020 Cup final series against Dallas in the Edmonton bubble.
At some point, the bubbles will have to burst, though Game 1 offered a double whammy when it came to extending the Lightning’s difficulty in winning in overtime — something they overcame, especially in 2021 — and at home.
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The latter is difficult to overcome at any point, as the Bolts have found out with three first-round exits in as many years since going to a third straight Cup final in 2022.
“There have been series when we lost the first two and came back to win,” said coach Jon Cooper. “It’s not do or die.”
Slafkovsky’s game-winner was his third goal of the game and Montreal’s first playoff hat trick in 12 years.
Game 2 is Tuesday evening (7:00) at The Bench.
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