The Tampa Bay Lightning have not come out of the first period with a lead in their last 20 games, dating back to the regular season. They are locked into a titantic battle with the Montreal Canadiens, a series so tight that it has been tied for nearly 60 percent of the total minutes. They are down to their last strike, so to speak -- with a 7pm faceoff scheduled for Game 6 on Friday night in Montreal, with the Canadiens holding a 3-2 lead even without major scoring from Montreal's top line. The Lightning-Canadiens series has been tied or within one goal for all but 5:37. There has been at most a one-goal margin for 98.2% of the playing time through the first five games (310:42 of 316:19). Tied %: 58.7 MTL Lead %: 32.7 TBL Lead %: 8.6 — Chris Meaney (@chrismeaney) April 30, 2026 And they will not have their captain, again. Not that it's stunning hat Victor Hedman is out again, but the reality hits hard, as the defenseman has been sorely missed.…