Should Brendan Gallagher Start the Playoffs In The Lineup

It’s no secret that Gallagher’s best hockey is behind him, but when he is rested, he has the ability to turn back the clock and play like the hard-nosed grinder that can cause trouble in front of the net for his opponents. He proved just that on Tuesday as he drove the net at a much faster pace than we had seen from him in the last few months as the condensed schedule really slowed him down. With his 9-day rest between games that allowed him to reset his legs so that they can move at the same speed as his brain, it clearly led him to show Habs management that he still has game left in him and can play in a limited role, which includes taking one or two games in a back-to-back, for example.

While the playoffs will be intense and high-speed, he won’t have to worry about any back-to-backs, allowing him to rest his body in between games. With that being said, Gallagher could potentially get therapy days in between games to keep his body fresh during the series against the Lightning, at least at the start, as he showed that a fresh version of himself can be better than some other guys in the bottom six.

An example of a player that he would be more useful than is someone like Kirby Dach, who, since returning from injury on April 7th, has yet to really show anything that says he deserves to start the playoffs in the lineup. Up until Tuesday night, it could be argued that Dach would be a better option in the lineup than Gallagher, but after the veteran forward showed that taking a few games to reset was what he needed to find his legs again, the final game of the season has changed the pecking order.

For those that argue that it was just one game for Gallagher and that Dach is still trying to find his spot in the lineup after coming back from yet another injury, there is a history that shows Gallagher at full health can play like he did on Tuesday game in and game out. The only difference is now his body can’t handle as many games anymore. With 4 days likely in between Tuesday’s game and the start of their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, that will allow Gallagher to be at 100% when it comes time for Game 1.

On the other hand, the Canadiens don’t have time to allow Dach to find his legs after missing over a month of game action yet again, and they need to move on with the guys that they can trust more. With Gallagher the Canadiens know they will have a warrior who will give it his all; it’s just his all isn’t what it once was, but if the Habs can manage his ice time and practice days correctly, he can be a part of the team’s top 12 forwards. There will likely also be a fight between Zack Bolduc and Joe Veleno for another roster spot, but that will be discussed tomorrow.

Do you think Gallagher should be in the Habs lineup for Game 1 against the Lightning?