GDT Round #1: Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game #5 - Montreal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning - Wednesday, April 30th, 2026 @ 7:00PM EST

[xXx..CK..xXx]

The last time I made a game day thread, the date was April 28th, 2025 and we were setting out to play game 5 versus the Washington Capitals on April 30th, 2025. Fast forward just about one year later, and here we are once again playing game 5 of a round 1 series, albeit under somewhat different circumstances. Entering last year’s game, the Habs were down in the series 1-3 and while they fought hard, they ended up losing the series in 5 games. The Habs have already guaranteed a longer series this time around, and there is the potential for a lot more moving forward. After being in attendance last night, while the game didn’t go our way, I’m not ready for playoff hockey to be over and am rooting for us to continue our journey.

 

Wednesday’s Matchup

 

Montreal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning - Wednesday, April 29th @ 7:00PM - Benchmark International Arena

 

 

Montreal Canadiens Lineup

 

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovský

Newhook - Kapanen - Demidov

Texier - Dach - Bolduc

Evans - Danault - Anderson

 

Matheson - Carrier

Guhle - Hutson

Xhekaj - Struble

 

Dobeš

Fowler 

 

 

Tampa Bay Lightning Lineup

 

Hagel - Point - Kucherov

Gourde - Cirelli - Guentzel

Bjorkstrand - James - Goncalves

Perry - Girgensons - Paul

 

Moser - Raddysh

McDonagh - Cernak

Lilleberg - Crozier

 

Vasilevskiy

Johansson

 

Storyline:

One of the main storylines heading into this game is how close the series has been. While anything can happen, it wouldn’t be hard to predict that this game will once again end by a 1 goal margin. The teams have played 3 overtime games, and the other game was settled once again by 1 goal. Despite the Habs having taken a 2 goal lead last game, Tampa clawed their way back, after scoring their first goal with less than 1 minute left in the second period.

 

 

The entire year, and in fact the past couple of years, the Habs have found themselves playing a lot of close games. The good news is that one can never count them out. They have come from behind quite often. The bad news is that it seems as though it is difficult for them to pull away even when they have a few goal lead. The two games that started prior to the Habs’ game yesterday saw Buffalo win 6-1, as well as Colorado eliminating the Kings by a score of 5-1. 
 

While Tampa is a good team and it’s not going to be easy to demolish them, it feels as though consistently playing in close games will eventually come back to bite the Habs, because instead of having an 80%+ chance to win, with a 4 goal lead, they often find themselves in 50-50 contests. It will be hard to get 16 wins in such a manner. Hopefully the Habs can find another gear and start spreading themselves from the competition when given an opportunity. 
 

 

Another storyline will be whether or not any lineup changes are made. Whether it is fans suggesting that Gallagher or Veleno should be inserted in the lineup, or people asking to shuffle the lines (mostly the top 2 lines) almost everyone has requested that something be changed. Cooper has made more changes than St. Louis and one could argue that the changes have paid dividends. After each loss, the losing team has battled back the following game, and in Tampa’s case, much of this can be due to the adjustments they have made.

 

 

I am not sure that I personally see much being changed next game, but I can see why people would want this to be the case. Personally, I’d like to see both Dobson and Gallagher in the lineup at some point, but health may play a role as to whether or not they will be inserted in both cases. Gallagher may need an injury to occur in order to be inserted, and Dobson will need to heal. The final reason that they may be inserted, or anyone new for that matter would be because we are losing the series for the first time. Will patience pay off, or will it be too late once we actually do make changes?

 

Similarly, the type of series we have seen between games 1 and 2 as well as 3 and 4 have been quite different. While there has still been physical play, the scrums have reduced a lot. It’s almost as though Cooper didn’t want to get the crowd into the games by having these scrums, as well as by taking undisciplined penalties. In that sense, a lot of the series is being played on Tampa Bay’s terms, when it comes to matchups, as well as stylistic choice of play. 
 

 

Finally, standouts within the series start and end with Hagel. The Habs have had some good moments from players such as Anderson, Dach, and Slafkovksý, however Hagel has brought his “A” game each game of the series. This reality is perhaps why some people would like to juggle the top 2 lines, as neither line have been dominant throughout the series, though certain players on those lines have had a respectable playoff thus far.

 

 

Goaltending has been somewhat of a wash and Kucherov while good has not been Tampa Bay’s number one threat which makes this series winnable. Let’s hope for a good contest, and a productive rest of the  series from the Habs.

 

Go Habs Go! 
 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

I hope that the refs don’t unduly affect this game

 

 

I also want to see Cooper tears. Tampa are expert official manipulators and dive champions. 
 

Kucherov has a long history of faking injury to get a call - just to jump up and join the PP seconds later

 

 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Nice GDT! Thanks, xXx. 👍

 

It feels like the series is at a pivot point where things have turned Tampa’s way. The combination of the big comeback and the massive demolition hit on Slaf give them all the momentum. I would note that coming back from a two-goal deficit is NOT terribly unusual in today’s NHL, even in the playoffs - this isn’t 1997. But of course everyone around TB will conveniently ignore that as they pump themselves up.

 

Other than avoiding stupid penalties in a playoff where the reffing has suddenly and inexplicably become puritanical, my advice to Habs players would be to keep doing what they’re doing. Every inch of ice is hard fought-for in this series and the Habs have been matching Tampa’s ‘compete’ level shift for shift.

 

The exception is Matheson. If he continues to play like a drunk on a bender, then that is a huge structural problem for the Habs, especially with Dobson out. There’s nothing to be done there, he just has to play better, period.

 

My advice to MSL is, as I’ve prattled on about before: assign someone to shadow Hagel - yes, gasp, line match-up, to that extent - and move Slaf to Line 2. 

 

These Habs have been counted out before and are more than capable of winning this game, against the odds. They just need their best players to play like it.

 

GO HABS GOOOO!

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Moving Slafkovsky could be a complete game changer 

 

Igniting Slaf and Demidov would be a true game changer for the series. It would potentially cause Cooper to move coverage thus freeing up Suzuki and Caufield as well. 
 

Very close series but as @The Chicoutimi Cucumber said, it sure feels like the series has shifted in Tampa's favor
 

 

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Matheson was helping Dobson with light drills but not surprised these guys missed practice 

 

Hard series is having its effect

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

30 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Matheson was helping Dobson with light drills but not surprised these guys missed practice 

 

Hard series is having its effect

 

MM might be playing hurt - that could explain his crapulence. 

[GHT120]

15 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

MM might be playing hurt - that could explain his crapulence. 

 

Against the opponents best, being even a half-step slower can create "panic" reactions that result in penalties and turnovers

[dlbalr]

11 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

MM might be playing hurt - that could explain his crapulence. 

 

He has missed a few skates now and was the one blueliner who got the final game of the regular season off.  That suggests something could be lingering.

 

On a different note, nice to see the 7 PM start for this one.  Not sure how many more of those there will be this series.

 

Edit: With Boston winning tonight, that pushes Friday's Game 6 to a 7 PM start so that's good.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Tonight is the night to add 11 points for our top 4

 

Hate these stats

[habscout]

Go Habs Go! 

 

If the Habs continue to win all of the odd numbered games then they will advance. 

[GHT120]

The Canadiens are not scheduled for a morning skate on Wednesday.
For the full official lineup, check back on the team’s social accounts on Instagram, Facebook and X closer to puck drop.

[tomh009]

49 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Tonight is the night to add 11 points for our top 4

 

Hate these stats

 

Tampa's 11 points ... it's really almost all Hagel, who has five goals at even strength, almost half of Tampa's 11-goal total. Really need to shut him down, more than anything else.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

BRING IN THE WARRIOR

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Caufield - Suzuki - Newhook

Slafkovsky - Evans - Demidov

Bolduc - Dach - Texier

Anderson - Danault - Gallagher

 

My guess 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Marinara sauce guess is close to my guess

[GHT120]

36 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

BRING IN THE WARRIOR

 

BOLD PREDICTION: he either gets a goal and an assist or two penalties and benched by mid-3rd

[Prime Minister Koivu]

3 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

 

BOLD PREDICTION: he either gets a goal and an assist or two penalties and benched by mid-3rd

I actually snorted, laughed out loud

 

Absolutely true - my gut tells me Gallagher is going to have an excellent night

[GHT120]

For those who want to parse his words for a hidden message ... he says "I have been fully committed to this team, to this city" but not "I am", "I remain", "I will always be"

 

 

 

[GNick]

I wasn't going to watch this game after Game 4 collapse, now I can't wait for game to come on 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Hoping Gallagher does indeed get inserted into the lineup, but I would keep the top line intact.

 

I am working until 9:00pm today unfortunately so I am going to try to ignore all the noise and will check back on the thread after I finish watching a repeat/recording of the game late tonight. 
 

Go Habs Go!

[xXx..CK..xXx]

A lot of people are predicting Cole to have the game winner tonight in the poll. Let’s get ‘er done! 

[tomh009]

48 minutes ago, GNick said:

I wasn't going to watch this game after Game 4 collapse, now I can't wait for game to come on 

 

It really wasn't a "collapse", I think. They still had the edge at five-on-five in the third period, but the three Tampa power plays did them in. It was a close game, like the three before.

[tomh009]

No Gallagher option on the poll for the winning goal? Voted "other" instead ...

[GHT120]

15 minutes ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

Hoping Gallagher does indeed get inserted into the lineup, but I would keep the top line intact.

 

I am working until 9:00pm today unfortunately so I am going to try to ignore all the noise and will check back on the thread after I finish watching a repeat/recording of the game late tonight. 
 

Go Habs Go!

 

I suggest watching on mild fast forward ... lets you catch the flow of the game, "pop-in" whenever anything intgeresting happens, and be in real-time by the second overtime (😉).

[sbhatt]

My guts are churning...the stakes in this game could barely be higher.  They have to find a way to win this, because I do not like our chances in a game 7 in Tampa.