The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs have brought a thrilling first-round series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens, exemplified by tightly contested matches. Each of the first six games ended with just a one-goal margin, with four of those going into overtime. As the teams face off in Game 7 at Benchmark International Arena on Sunday, the Canadiens aim to maintain their winning trend after claiming victories in Games 1, 3, and 5, including two road wins.

The Lightning, having evened the series with a 1-0 overtime victory in Montreal last Friday, look to avoid their fourth consecutive first-round exit after three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances. Historically, the Canadiens hold a 15-9 record in Game 7s, with a 7-6 record on the road, while Tampa Bay stands at 7-3 overall and 4-1 at home in such critical games.

Key players to watch include Brandon Hagel, who leads the NHL with six goals this postseason, and Jake Guentzel, who shares the team lead in points. For Montreal, Nick Suzuki and defenseman Lane Hutson each contribute five points.

As the winner of this high-stakes matchup prepares for a second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres, the Colorado Avalanche will also be in action against the Minnesota Wild. The Avalanche, having swept the Los Angeles Kings, face a Wild team that needed six games to defeat the Dallas Stars. In their postseason history, Minnesota has won two of three matchups against Colorado.

For player prop betting on Sunday:

• Jake Guentzel: 1+ assists (+120, FanDuel) - Expect him to play a pivotal role.
• Juraj Slafkovsky: Anytime goal scorer (+240, BetMGM) - After a strong start, he aims to bounce back.
• Kirill Kaprizov: Over 0.5 assists (+105, BetMGM) - With seven assists in the first round, he is poised to contribute significantly.