Gallagher Could Debut in Game 5 as Canadiens – Lightning Tied 2-2
Brendan Gallagher could join the Canadiens – Lightning series in Game 5 at Benchmark International Arena, giving Montreal a possible lineup change with the best-of-7 tied 2-2. Gallagher has not played in the first four games of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Montreal may have him available for a matchup that has already produced 11 goals and 34 penalties apiece through four games.
Gallagher And Montreal
Martin St. Louis said, "There’s no doubt that, if he plays, he’s going to give you everything he has" before Game 5, and added, "I think he does that every game." That is the decision point for Montreal: whether to put Gallagher in for his 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs debut after he opened the series on the sideline.
Gallagher has played 76 playoff games, and his return would add a different layer to a series that has been tight on the scoreboard and in the penalty box. Montreal and Tampa Bay each scored 11 goals and took 34 penalties through the first four games, so one roster call could shift a matchup that has stayed level through four starts.
Victor Hedman Remains Out
Tampa Bay will still be without Victor Hedman. He has not played since March 19, and he took a leave of absence from the team on March 25, though he skated with the Lightning at Wednesday morning's skate before Jon Cooper said he remains out.
The Lightning also have more experience on the ice if the series reaches its usual pressure point. Nikita Kucherov has played 156 playoff games, Andrei Vasilevskiy has played 124, and Vasilevskiy was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy on Wednesday along with Ilya Sorokin and Jeremy Swayman.
Game 5 Pressure
Game 5 carries the weight of the numbers. In tied best-of-7 playoff rounds, the Game 5 winner has gone on to win the series in 239 of 301 cases, a 79.4 percent rate, with home teams going 150-36 and road teams 89-26 when the series is 2-2.
That leaves Montreal with a direct choice on its hands at Benchmark International Arena: keep the lineup intact or add Gallagher for a game that has a strong series history behind it. Zachary Bolduc said of Gallagher, "He’s been in the League and a Montreal Canadien for so many years, so it’s fun to have him around," and added, "He’s been good, even though he hasn’t had the opportunity to play yet."
Bolduc also said Gallagher has been around the younger players, asking, "What did you see out there?" before adding, "We’ll have to see if he’s in the lineup."
