Montreal Canadiens

2 Positives & 2 Negatives in Canadiens 3-2 Win Over the Lightning

Gallagher sparks the Canadiens, Dobes holds firm, but can Montreal’s top line finally show up before Game 6 decides everything?

by
Old Prof
April 30, 2026

The Montreal Canadiens pulled off a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5. It felt like one of those ugly, scrappy victories that you cheer louder for than a pretty one. Brendan Gallagher showed up exactly how you want — scraping, smiling, and burying a rebound three minutes in — while Jakub Dobes and the defence did enough to hang on as the Lightning pushed late.

The big result is that the Canadiens now lead the series 3-2 and get to take a crack at closing it at the Bell Centre in Game 6.

Two Positives from the Canadiens Perspective

Canadiens Positive One: Brendan Gallagher Added Some Spark

Brendan Gallagher’s juice started early. Gallagher showed why you keep a vet like him around. First playoff shift, 180 seconds in, and he’s banging home a rebound while his helmet’s falling off. That kind of energy is infectious; it woke up the bench, calmed the team, and gave the team an early lead it never relinquished. Small minutes, huge impact.

Canadiens Positive Two: The Canadiens Got Good Goalie Play

Tight defensive structure and goaltending helped carry Montreal. Whether you like Dobes or not, the young goalie and the back end did their jobs when it mattered. The Canadiens didn’t let Tampa Bay get easy, clean chances at even strength, and they killed off the scrambles in the third. That discipline won them the game.

Jakub Dobes Canadiens loss — Jakub Dobes helped carry the Canadiens.

Two Negatives from the Canadiens Perspective

Canadiens Negative One: The Habs First Line Hasn’t Shown Up Yet

The Canadiens’ top line is still invisible. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky haven’t scored 5-on-5 in the series, and that’s a problem. You can’t rely forever on depth snipes and grit goals; the top guys need to drive play and create more consistently, especially at home, if you want to close the deal.

Canadiens Negative Two: The Canadiens Missed Scoring Chances

Offensive chances were left on the table. Montreal had a few really sloppy looks to extend the lead and didn’t finish them. If Tampa Bay gets one of those instead, the whole night flips. The Canadiens need cleaner execution in tight spaces and better puck luck at home.

Can the Canadiens Win Game 6 at Home?

The short answer is yes. Bell Centre will be wild, and that crowd can shove a team over the line. But Montreal has to get more from its top line and finish chances early. They can’t let the Lightning hang around. If Gallagher gives the same spark and the defence stays disciplined, closing it out Friday feels totally doable.