Nikita Kucherov hurt in Game 3 as Canadiens take series lead
Nikita Kucherov left Tampa Bay fans holding their breath Thursday night at the Bell Centre as the Canadiens won Game 3 in overtime, 3-2, taking a 2-1 series lead.
The incident happened in the first period. Kucherov attempted to hit Alexandre Carrier along the boards, missed the check entirely, and slammed hard into the dasher with no one to absorb the impact.
He stayed in the game. But the way he retreated to the bench, sat down, and went still for several minutes told a story on its own.
Kucherov had still been on the ice for Brayden Point's power play goal in the first period, recording an assist before the collision. After that? Quietly faded into the background.
He did not look like himself the rest of the night. Subdued. Minimal impact. For a player making $9.5 million against the cap and serving as Tampa's engine on every meaningful shift, that is not a good sign.
Jon Cooper is not going to say anything. That is just how this works in the playoffs.
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Lane Hutson ends it in OT as Canadiens push Tampa to the brink
Meanwhile, Lane Hutson delivered the dagger. Just over two minutes into overtime, the 22-year-old defenseman buried his second goal of the playoffs to end it, giving Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens a 2-1 series advantage.
Hutson finished the regular season with 78 points in 82 games. That kind of offensive instinct doesn't disappear in April.
The Bell Centre was rocking. And Tampa was left to wonder what it actually has at the top of its lineup heading into Game 4.
Montreal had 29 shots on goal to Tampa's 17. The Canadiens controlled this game for long stretches, and the score reflected that.
The Lightning did hang around. Brandon Hagel's unassisted goal in the second period gave them the lead, and Kirby Dach tied it late. But the tone of this game belonged to Montreal.
Game 4 is Sunday at the Bell Centre. If Kucherov is compromised, Tampa is in serious trouble.
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APRIL 26, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Bowen Byram | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Josh Doan | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Peyton Krebs | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Owen Power | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Quinn | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alex Tuch | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Viktor Arvidsson | - | - | - | |
| Jonathan Aspirot | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | - | - | - | |
| Morgan Geekie | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Greenway | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Harris | - | - | - | |
| Tanner Jeannot | - | - | - | |
| Mark Kastelic | - | - | - | |
| Marat Khusnutdinov | - | - | - | |
| Tyson Kozak | - | - | - | |
| Sean Kuraly | - | - | - | |
| Elias Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||