Marc Dumont
The Montreal Canadiens (2-2) will face the Tampa Bay Lightning (2-2) in Game 5 on Wednesday, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.
With the series tied at two games a piece, this will be a crucial match up for both teams, as the winner will have a significant advantage going forward.
If the Canadiens are to return to Montreal with a series lead, they’ll need to count on their first line to start producing at 5v5. Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, and Nick Suzuki have done fairly well when the Canadiens have a man advantage, but they’re yet to register their names on the scoresheet at 5v5, a considerable drag on the team’s offensive potential.
More often than not, Suzuki and Company have to face Brandon Hagel, a situation that has essentially neutered the first line’s offensive capabilities.
As for any lineup changes, the only decision that’s worth monitoring is Brendan Gallagher’s return to the ice. Gallagher, 33, has been used sparingly by the Canadiens in recent weeks, with his last game taking place on April 14, versus the Philadelphia Flyers.
Seeing as Oliver Kapanen took part in the optional skate this morning, all signs point to the 22-year-old Finn being the player who will make his way to the press box to allow for Gallagher’s return to the lineup.
Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup
Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook – Phillip Danault – Ivan Demidov
Zachary Bolduc- Kirby Dach – Alexandre Texier
Brendan Gallagher – Jake Evans- Josh Anderson
Mike Matheson – Alexander Carrier
Kaiden Guhle – Lane Hutson
Jayden Struble – Arber Xhekaj
Jakub Dobes
Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lineup
Gage Goncalves – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Jake Guentzel
Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Nick Paul
Corey Perry – Dominic James – Scott Sabourin
J.J. Moser – Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Declan Carlile – Emil Lilleberg
Andrei Vasilevskiy
How To Watch The Habs Vs. The Bolts
The Montreal Canadiens versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, will be aired on CBC, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. An instant recap complete with highlights will be available on Sportsnaut as soon as the final whistle blows.
Additional NHL Playoff Analysis
- Canadiens vs. Lightning – Playoff Primer – Head-to-Head at 5v5
- Canadiens Vs. Lightning – Special Teams
- Canadiens vs. Lightning – X Factors
