Slafkovsky, Structure, and Belief: Canadiens Eye Game 5 Upset

The Montreal Canadiens head into Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a series that honestly feels way closer than anyone probably expected. It’s tied 2–2, there’s been overtime, momentum swings, big hits, late goals — basically everything you’d expect from a playoff series that refuses to settle down.

The Canadiens have a real chance against the Lightning.

And now Montreal has a real chance here. Not a “maybe if everything goes right” kind of chance. A legit, “we can win this game” kind of belief. Here are three simple reasons why.

Reason One: Juraj Slafkovsky will play.

First, Juraj Slafkovsky is still in the lineup. That matters more than people might think. He took that big open-ice hit from Max Crozier in Game 4, went to the room, came back, and still managed to stay in the fight. That’s not just toughness — that’s a tone-setter. He’s already got three goals in the series, he’s been one of Montreal’s most dangerous forwards, and the fact that he’s playing through that kind of attention sends a message to the rest of the group: we’re not backing off. In playoff hockey, that energy spreads fast.

Reason Two: The Canadiens aren’t punching above their weight class.

Second, Montreal has shown it can actually go toe-to-toe with Tampa. This isn’t a case where they’re being outplayed and just hanging around. Every game has had moments where the Canadiens have pushed the pace, forced mistakes, and created chaos. Nick Suzuki has been steady, Jake Evans has been honest about the need for cleaner execution, and even the coaching message from Martin St. Louis has been simple — don’t let one hit or one moment define the series. That’s the right mindset in a series like this. It’s tight, it’s emotional, and it’s still completely there for the taking.

Reason Three: The Lightning aren’t overwhelming the younger Habs.

Third, Tampa isn’t exactly walking away with this either. Yes, they got the Game 4 win, but it took late execution from Brandon Hagel and a pretty chaotic overall flow to get there. This hasn’t been a dominant Lightning series. It’s been scrappy, uneven, and full of penalties and swings. That usually keeps the door open for the underdog.

So heading into Game 5, Montreal isn’t chasing something unrealistic. They’re chasing one solid road game, a bit more structure, and maybe another moment from their young core.

And in a series like this, that might be enough.