The Montreal Canadiens are one win away from advancing to the second spherical of the NHL playoffs after a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Recreation 5 on Wednesday evening.
Brendan Gallagher, Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier scored for Montreal in a tightly contested sport the place the Canadiens by no means trailed.
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš was a key issue, turning apart 38 photographs as Montreal moved inside a victory of advancing previous the primary spherical for the primary time since 2021.
All 5 video games within the sequence have now been determined by a single aim.
Gallagher returns to lineup, sparks offence in Recreation 4
After sitting out the primary 4 video games of the sequence as a wholesome scratch, Brendan Gallagher returned to the lineup and wasted no time making an affect.
The 33-year-old opened the scoring simply three minutes into the sport, burying a rebound after Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped Alex Newhook’s preliminary probability.
Gallagher, taking part in within the 77th playoff sport of his profession, changed Oliver Kapanen within the lineup. Kapanen had gone scoreless by the primary 4 video games whereas averaging 8:39 of ice time.
The veteran winger completed the common season with seven objectives and 16 assists in 77 video games and entered the evening with 33 profession playoff factors.
WHO ELSE BUT BRENDAN GALLAGHER?
HE OPENS THE SCORING IN GAME 5 ???? pic.twitter.com/Cspb5xUZzA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2026
Again-and-forth battle stays tight
The Lightning pushed again within the second interval, with Dominic James scoring his first profession playoff aim and Jake Guentzel including one other late within the body.
Montreal responded rapidly after James tied the sport, as Dach restored the lead simply 11 seconds later. The ahead drove the online and completed a highlight-reel play, regaining management of the puck and slipping it previous Vasilevskiy.
KIRBY DACH RESPONDS FOR THE HABS 11 SECONDS LATER ???? pic.twitter.com/v62QOgQVlD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2026
Texier would supply the winner early within the third interval, taking a protracted stretch cross from Lane Hutson and firing a shot that clipped Vasilevskiy’s glove earlier than discovering the again of the online simply over a minute into the body.
ALEXANDRE TEXIER PUTS MONTREAL AHEAD ???? pic.twitter.com/rkEUYWM9Gx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2026
Regardless of late strain from Tampa Bay, the Canadiens held on to safe the win.
The Lightning, who at the moment are dealing with elimination, have struggled at house in current post-seasons, dropping 10 of their final 12 playoff video games on house ice.
Lineup modifications on either side
Montreal’s resolution to insert Gallagher paid off, whereas Tampa Bay additionally made an adjustment, with Nick Paul popping out of the lineup and Conor Geekie drawing in.
Followers erupt throughout Montreal
The vitality of the win was felt far past Tampa, with followers throughout Montreal gathering to look at Recreation 5 — together with a packed crowd at La Cage downtown, simply steps from the Bell Centre.
One fan, who plans to attend Recreation 6 in particular person, mentioned the environment is simply constructing.
“It’s going to be so loud, it’s going to be so loopy,” he mentioned. “I believe they did what they needed to do — nice street sport. They actually responded nicely from the final sport. Shut it down, completely, particularly within the third.”
“I believe they’re going to come back house, play arduous. I imply, they’re dealing with elimination, Tampa — c’est des vieux loups, they know tips on how to win — however I believe we’ve obtained it. They’re going to go arduous.”
One other fan mentioned the one-goal sport had them locked in from begin to end.
“We’re feeling simply nice. It’s an incredible sport, by one aim, and we have been there all the best way,” he mentioned.
Others have been already waiting for Friday evening again in Montreal.
“They performed actually nice,” one fan mentioned. “They’ll shut it off right here Friday evening.”
The depth of the sport — and the environment within the metropolis — stood out to many.
“It’s loopy, I can’t imagine it. That was very tight, and I’m very pleased. Town is alive, everyone seems to be pleased — let’s go get the Cup,” one other fan mentioned.
“I’m feeling nice. Everyone performed actually good, so I’m very pleased,” added one other.
For some, the stress of the sequence has been a part of the joy.
“Ecstatic — Habs in six, that’s all I’ve to say,” one fan mentioned. “It’s been tight video games all sequence lengthy, however actually enjoyable, truthfully… I believe the perfect sequence up to now this playoffs.”
A pair of supporters watching collectively echoed that confidence.
“We really feel superb. We gained, so we’re one sport nearer to profitable, so we’re actually excited,” one mentioned.
“I imply, we’ve at all times been on the verge of profitable and dropping, and that’s what exhibits what the Canadiens are all about — hustling, powering by and profitable by. So we’re rooting for them, and we imagine in them,” she added.
The win units up a pivotal Recreation 6 on the Bell Centre on Friday evening, the place the Canadiens may have an opportunity to clinch the sequence on house ice.
