Canadiens hold off Lightning in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead
Posted April 29, 2026 6:37 pm.
Last Updated April 29, 2026 11:39 pm.
The Montreal Canadiens are one win away from advancing to the second round of the NHL playoffs after a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Brendan Gallagher, Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier scored for Montreal in a tightly contested game where the Canadiens never trailed.
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš was a key factor, turning aside 38 shots as Montreal moved within a victory of advancing past the first round for the first time since 2021.
All five games in the series have now been decided by a single goal.
Gallagher returns to lineup, sparks offence in Game 4
After sitting out the first four games of the series as a healthy scratch, Brendan Gallagher returned to the lineup and wasted no time making an impact.
The 33-year-old opened the scoring just three minutes into the game, burying a rebound after Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped Alex Newhook’s initial chance.
Gallagher, playing in the 77th playoff game of his career, replaced Oliver Kapanen in the lineup. Kapanen had gone scoreless through the first four games while averaging 8:39 of ice time.
The veteran winger finished the regular season with seven goals and 16 assists in 77 games and entered the night with 33 career playoff points.
WHO ELSE BUT BRENDAN GALLAGHER?
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2026
HE OPENS THE SCORING IN GAME 5 ???? pic.twitter.com/Cspb5xUZzA
Back-and-forth battle stays tight
The Lightning pushed back in the second period, with Dominic James scoring his first career playoff goal and Jake Guentzel adding another late in the frame.
Montreal responded quickly after James tied the game, as Dach restored the lead just 11 seconds later. The forward drove the net and finished a highlight-reel play, regaining control of the puck and slipping it past Vasilevskiy.
KIRBY DACH RESPONDS FOR THE HABS 11 SECONDS LATER ???? pic.twitter.com/v62QOgQVlD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2026
Texier would provide the winner early in the third period, taking a long stretch pass from Lane Hutson and firing a shot that clipped Vasilevskiy’s glove before finding the back of the net just over a minute into the frame.
ALEXANDRE TEXIER PUTS MONTREAL AHEAD ???? pic.twitter.com/rkEUYWM9Gx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2026
Despite late pressure from Tampa Bay, the Canadiens held on to secure the win.
The Lightning, who are now facing elimination, have struggled at home in recent post-seasons, losing 10 of their last 12 playoff games on home ice.
Lineup changes on both sides
Montreal’s decision to insert Gallagher paid off, while Tampa Bay also made an adjustment, with Nick Paul coming out of the lineup and Conor Geekie drawing in.
Fans erupt across Montreal
The energy of the win was felt far beyond Tampa, with fans across Montreal gathering to watch Game 5 — including a packed crowd at La Cage downtown, just steps from the Bell Centre.
One fan, who plans to attend Game 6 in person, said the atmosphere is only building.
“It’s going to be so loud, it’s going to be so crazy,” he said. “I think they did what they had to do — great road game. They really responded well from the last game. Shut it down, totally, especially in the third.”
“I think they’re going to come home, play hard. I mean, they are facing elimination, Tampa — c’est des vieux loups, they know how to win — but I think we’ve got it. They’re going to go hard.”
Another fan said the one-goal game had them locked in from start to finish.
“We’re feeling just great. It’s an amazing game, by one goal, and we were there all the way,” he said.
Others were already looking ahead to Friday night back in Montreal.
“They played really great,” one fan said. “They’ll close it off here Friday night.”
The intensity of the game — and the atmosphere in the city — stood out to many.
“It’s crazy, I can’t believe it. That was very tight, and I’m very happy. The city is alive, everyone is happy — let’s go get the Cup,” another fan said.
“I’m feeling great. Everybody played really good, so I’m very happy,” added another.
For some, the tension of the series has been part of the excitement.
“Ecstatic — Habs in six, that’s all I have to say,” one fan said. “It’s been tight games all series long, but really fun, honestly… I think the best series so far this playoffs.”
A pair of supporters watching together echoed that confidence.
“We feel amazing. We won, so we’re one game closer to winning, so we’re really excited,” one said.
“I mean, we’ve always been on the verge of winning and losing, and that’s what shows what the Canadiens are all about — hustling, powering through and winning through. So we’re rooting for them, and we believe in them,” she added.
The win sets up a pivotal Game 6 at the Bell Centre on Friday night, where the Canadiens will have a chance to clinch the series on home ice.
