Gallagher In, Kapanen Out for Game 5 — Alignement Canadien Ce Soir
Alignement canadien ce soir changes in Tampa, and Martin St-Louis is putting Brendan Gallagher back in the lineup for Game 5 against the Lightning. Olivier Kapanen is coming out for the Canadiens as they try to grab a 3-2 lead in the first-round series.
Gallagher Returns In Tampa
Gallagher has not played since the regular-season finale on April 14 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He finished the regular season with 23 points in 77 games, and St-Louis said before the game, “Il n’y a pas de doute que s’il joue, il va tout donner ce qu’il a.”
That adds a different edge to Montreal’s attack. Alexandre Carrier put it plainly: “On connaît tous Gally. Il amène de la combativité et on parlait tantôt de présence devant le filet, on sait ce qu’il peut faire à cet endroit.”
Olivier Kapanen Skates Out
Kapanen skated in the morning with Joe Veleno, Patrik Laine, Jacob Fowler and Samuel Montembeault, but he is the one leaving the lineup for Game 5. The swap puts Gallagher into a series that has been tight from end to end, with each team scoring 11 goals through four games.
That balance shows up in the margins. Tampa Bay has 94 shots on goal in the series, Montreal 93, and the Canadiens have spent 73 minutes in the penalty box to the Lightning’s 71.
Lightning Hold Narrow Edge
Brandon Hagel scored the deciding goal in Game 4 with 4 minutes 53 seconds left in regulation, and the Canadiens are still within one win of controlling the series. Montreal’s first line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky has not scored a point at five-on-five in this series, even though the trio piled up 161 points during the regular season.
Carrier said of that group, “Je ne m’inquiète pas pour eux, ils ont brillé toute l’année, ce sont des gamers. Je pense qu’ils vont en connaître une grosse ce soir.” That gives Montreal a direct read on where the pressure sits: a lineup tweak up front, a series tied 2-2, and a chance to leave Tampa with the lead in the matchup.
Noah Dobson Watch
Noah Dobson has also been dealing with an injury since blocking a shot against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the end of the regular season, and he has skated alone in recent days. For Montreal, the roster picture is still shaped by what St-Louis can insert now and what he can only monitor as the series turns on one game.
