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The Habs entered their best-of-seven series against Tampa Bay with some high hopes.  It’s now a best-of-three series after this past week but it’s one that Montreal should have some confidence that they can still win.

The Week That Was

Apr. 21: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) – The first game of the series didn’t feature much physicality.  This one was much different.  It was a parade to the penalty box for both sides following scrum after scrum.  Still, the Habs had the lead in the third period but weren’t able to hold it when Nikita Kucherov beat Jakub Dobes on a wraparound.  Then, in the overtime, Montreal couldn’t manage a single shot as their play and attention to detail fell apart.  That led to some mistakes from Kirby Dach leading to J.J. Moser beating Dobes off a faceoff for the victory.

Apr, 24: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (OT) – Back in Montreal, the new-look third line drove Montreal’s attack as that trio was on for all three goals while Dach had a two-point effort to help try to make up for his tough outing.  This time, it was the Habs coming back as after Brandon Hagel beat Dobes on a clunker, Dach was able to tie it with a good bounce off a shot from the side-wall.  Then, in overtime, Lane Hutson got a slapper from the point through a giant maze of players to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy and give the home side the series lead.

Apr. 26: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 – For the first time in the series, there was a two-goal lead as goals from Zach Bolduc and Cole Caufield (on the power play) had the Habs on top.  However, Jake Guentzel scored in the final minute of the second period, giving Tampa Bay some momentum heading into the third.  There, the Canadiens opted not to shadow Nikita Kucherov on a penalty kill which proved costly as he set Hagel up for the tying goal.  Then, it was the Lightning’s turn to get a good bounce as a point shot went off Hagel and in; that stood as the winner to tie the series again.

StatPack

Skaters:

Goalies:

Playoff Team Leaders:

Goals: Juraj Slafkovsky (3)
Assists: Nick Suzuki (4)
Points: Caufield/Hutson/Suzuki (4)
+/-: Zachary Bolduc (+4)
PIMS: Anderson/Xhekaj (10)
Shots: Juraj Slafkovsky (12)

News And Notes

– With the first three games of the series going to overtime, it was the first time since the 1951 Stanley Cup Final that the Habs opened a series with three straight extra-time games.

– After Game 4, the Canadiens assigned David Reinbacher back to Laval.  That will allow him to keep playing as the Rocket get their playoffs started this week against Toronto.

– Going back to the regular season, Oliver Kapanen has been held without a point in 14 straight games.

Last Game’s Lines:

Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
Newhook – Kapanen – Demidov
Bolduc – Dach – Texier
Evans – Danault – Anderson

Guhle – Hutson
Matheson – Carrier
Struble – Xhekaj

Semi-Final Thought

Noah Dobson has resumed skating which has upped some enthusiasm for his potential return to the lineup.  Officially, an update on his status is expected over the next day or two.  But based on how his skates have gone so far, we already have a pretty good idea of what that update is going to be.

The update is going to say that he’s not particularly close.  If you’re going for a 25-minute skate and aren’t shooting pucks, you’re nowhere near being ready to return to the lineup.  These types of skates are more just getting onto the ice from a conditioning standpoint so that when he’s actually cleared, he can get up to speed quicker.  I expect the update after the two-week mark is that he’s probably going to be out for at least two more weeks.  Maybe he’ll be available partway through the second round if the Habs can make it that far, I’m not expecting to see him return in this series.

Final Thought

While the front line has received the bulk of the criticism when it comes to a lack of offence, one player has fallen under the radar somewhat despite a lack of production and that’s Ivan Demidov.  Limited to just one power play assist so far, he’s also a part of the ‘second line’, the one whose usage at even strength seems to be dropping rather quickly.  Just ask Oliver Kapanen about that; he’s listed as the 2C but has played the least of anyone.

This is the second straight postseason that Demidov’s production has been limited.  Last year, he rightfully got a pass considering he entered the playoffs having been an NHL player for all of a week.  Expectations were low and he held his own relative to those.

It’s a little harder to give him a pass this time around.  Fifth on the team in scoring this season and a probable finalist for the Calder Trophy, he’s not just an extra player whose contributions would be a nice bonus, similar to the reactions when the third line started to contribute.  No, when you play that prominent of a role in the lineup, there’s an expectation of some sort of meaningful contribution.  So far, Demidov hasn’t provided that.

Yes, he’s a rookie.  Yes, he’s not on the top line.  But I think it’s fair to say that more is expected from him over these next two to three games.  It’s a list that, despite the Habs being tied in the series, is somewhat surprisingly long.