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Montreal Canadiens Looking to Stay Alive in Elimination Game vs. Leafs

ByElias Laradi|
July 28, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens scores on a backhand shot against goaltender Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period of an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. Mandatory Credit: Mark Blinch/NHLI via USA TODAY Sports
July 28, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens scores on a backhand shot against goaltender Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period of an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. Mandatory Credit: Mark Blinch/NHLI via USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Canadiens face elimination for the first time tonight in Game 5, and will look to extend the series.

It’s officially do or die for the Montreal Canadiens tonight in game 5 as they will try to push the series to a sixth game back at the Bell Centre and a chance to host fans for the first time since the pandemic started.

The Canadiens are coming off a 4-0 loss in Game 4 and, once again, the issue at hand is scoring goals, and it continues to haunt the Habs as they have only scored four goals in four games which is not good enough.

Tyler Toffoli who led the Habs and finished seventh in goals this past season (with 28 goals) has yet to light the lamp and he will need to get going or the Canadiens will be playing their last game of the season tonight.

Montreal once again will have to stay out of the box as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ powerplay has continued to pick up steam and be effective. While, on the other side, the Habs’ powerplay hasn’t been up to snub and will need to be better.

Head Coach Dominque Ducharme is making one change tonight, taking out Brett Kulak and putting in Erik Gustafsson who was acquired at the trade deadline from Philadelphia. The reason behind it was that he could spend some time on the powerplay and make it click, which is what Ducharme will look for him to do tonight.

This is the projected lineup:

Carey Price continues to be at his best and has said he still believes in his group but a loss tonight could raise a lot of questions this offseason if he decides to stay or either ask to be traded or exposed to the expansion draft and risk being selected by the Seattle Kraken.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST. The game will be available in English on NBCSN, CBC, and Sportsnet, and in French on TVA Sports.

On radio, TSN will carry the game in both markets with 690AM in Montreal and 1050 in Toronto. Ti will also be available in French in Quebec on 98.5FM.

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