Canadiens Take Game 5 vs Lightning

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In a tight game 5, the Montreal Canadiens edged out the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 to go up 3-2 in the first-round series of the NHL playoffs.

Montreal scored the first goal of the game in the first period when Tampa Bay’s forward Corey Perry lost control of the puck at middle ice, where Montreal’s Alex Newhook handled the puck to the net and Brandon Gallagher put it in.

Tampa Bay responded at 6:49 in the second period with Dominic James’ slap shot goal.

Just 11 seconds later, Montreal took the lead again with Kirby Dach taking a wrist shot off his own skate. The Canadiens kept the lead 2-1 until the 17th minute when the Lightning tied the game again with a goal from Jake Guentzel.

Just over a minute into the third period, Montreal’s Alexandre Texier scored the go-ahead goal with assists from Lane Hutson and Nick Suzuki. Rookie goalie Jakub Dobes successfully defended the goal for the remainder of the game to secure the Canadiens’ game 5 win.

In the first three games, overtime was played between Tampa and Montreal, with the Canadiens leading two games to one heading into Game 4.

In Game 4, the Lightning came back to win in regulation after being down by two goals in the second period, scoring their first goal with 54-seconds left in the period.

Tampa Bay is looking to get its third Stanley Cup in the past six years, with the most recent wins being back-to-back in 2020 and 2021.

On the other hand, Montreal is looking to win its first Stanley Cup since 1993 where they beat the Los Angeles Kings.

In a win-or-go-home Game 6, Tampa Bay looks to tie the series up again to prevent being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for the fourth straight year.

With Montreal having home ice advantage for game 6, statistically, things look hopeful.

Sportsnetstats posted the following on X after the Canadiens’ win:

“Per @NHLPR, Canadiens are 7-1 all-time at home in Game 6s when leading a best-of-7 series 3-2,”

According to Montreal’s playoff schedule, the Canadiens and Lightning are set to face each other for Game 6 at the Bell Centre in Montreal at 6 p.m. Friday.