Texier breaks 3rd-period tie, Canadiens beat Lightning 3-2 in Game 5 to take series lead

Alexandre Texier scored 1:06 into the third period to break a tie and lift the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of their first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 38 saves, while Brendan Gallagher and Kirby Dach also scored for Montreal. The win gives the Canadiens a 3-2 series lead, putting them one victory away from advancing to the next round for the first time since their 2021 Stanley Cup Finals appearance.