Canadiens Stay Alive With Energized Game-5 Win

May 9, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Devante Smith-Pelly (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in game five of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Power Players

PK Subban had another stellar night; despite hitting two posts (the disappointment was keen on his face as the camera zoomed in for his reaction to the “ping”), he set up P-A Parenteau for the game-winning goal.

Nathan Beaulieu, back for the first time since his injury in the first round, looked as though he hadn’t missed a day. He had a strong game.

Alex Galchenyuk who, while still not his usual aggressive self, came very close to a 2nd goal for the Habs in the 2nd period, when he tried to get the puck over the line in a wraparound, but was thwarted by the stick of Anton Stralman, who did a super job of saving the goal.

I do believe Galchenyuk had a better game and came closer than before, with shots and “almost goals”.

One of the best tweets came after Devante Smith-Pelly’s goal. Jay Farrar – of TSN 690 Sports Talk Radio, tweeted this:

And yes, that line stepped up yet again.

This is really a good sign; when the fourth-line players are scoring, it bodes well for the team. Game 4 saw power forward Pacioretty score a short-handed goal, and 5 other players get their goals as well. But for Smith-Pelly to get his first playoff goal as a Habs forward, in this crucial game, and at that juncture, it speaks very well to his having been acquired. GM Marc Bergevin is, indeed, entitled to the smiles for his foresight.

Game Notes:

Those Posts!

In this game alone, the posts saved Bishop in a big way. On just one power play, the puck hit the posts twice. In one period, 3 posts. In the game, 4 in total. Perhaps Bishop is talking to his goal posts the same way Patrick Roy talked to his.

In this series? There’s a debate on Twitter as to whether it is 10 or 11, but there’s no question the goal posts have become Ben Bishop’s friends.

Sitting On A Lead?

There are many on Twitter who believed, through the game, that the Habs were sitting on their 1-goal lead. I do not concur with this. They continued to pressure Bishop, they were taking shots – see the previous point – and they had many scoring chances.

The bounces didn’t go their way. Bishop is big, he fills the net, and he got some pretty saves. Tampa Bay filled in with defense, and shooting lanes didn’t always open.

But watching the effort on the ice, through a solid 60 minutes of play, I saw no sitting back. Maybe it seemed that way to some, because in the pre-Michel Therrien days, the Habs were reputed to play defensive hockey.

However, I just don’t see that these days – and certainly didn’t see it in Game 5. I’m sure the Habs were putting forth their best offensive efforts; they just weren’t connecting.

When it counted, though – they did. Not every game will be a 6-2 blowout.

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