KEYS TO THE GAME
Why not us?
Successful a Sport 7 begins with perception—and the Canadiens ought to have loads of it. Montreal has gained two of three video games in Tampa this sequence and was one of many NHL’s greatest highway groups all season. So why not yet another within the largest sport of the yr?
Comply with the leaders
Six present Habs had been on the roster the final time the Canadiens performed a Sport 7 on Could 31, 2021: Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Phillip Danault, Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher, and Nick Suzuki. Mixed, they create 11 video games of Sport 7 expertise. On the opposite facet, Corey Perry—who was additionally a part of that 2021 Canadiens staff—has 11 on his personal. The sting in expertise leans closely towards Tampa, so Montreal’s younger group will look to its leaders to information the best way in a high-pressure second.
Block out the noise
Sport 7s don’t come with out exterior noise––particularly in a market like Montreal––nevertheless it’ll be essential for the Habs to dam out mentioned noise and easily play their sport. Not solely have they stored tempo with the Lightning, however one would argue they’ve outplayed Tampa for big stretches of this sequence. In reality, the Canadiens have trailed for under about 28 minutes of sport time all sequence. Regardless, Sunday is about going out, trusting their id and profitable a hockey sport.
HEAD TO HEAD
Common season
Dec. 9 vs. TBL: 6-1 TBL
Dec. 28 @ TBL: 5-4 TBL (SO)
Mar. 31 @ TBL: 4-1 MTL
Apr. 9 vs. TBL: 2-1 MTL
Playoffs
Sport 1 | Apr. 19 @ TBL: 4-3 MTL (OT)
Sport 2 | Apr. 21 @ TBL: 3-2 TBL (OT)
Sport 3 | Apr. 24 vs. TBL: 3-2 MTL (OT)
Sport 4 | Apr. 26 vs. TBL: 3-2 TBL
Sport 5 | Apr. 28 @ TBL: 3-2 MTL
Sport 6 | Could 1 vs. TBL: 1-0 TBL (OT)
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR
Jakub Dobes and Andrei Vasilevskiy have gone toe-to-toe all sequence, and Sport 7 ought to be no completely different. Dobes, the rookie, starred with 38 saves in Sport 5, whereas Vasilevskiy, a future Corridor-of-Famer, stole Sport 6 for Tampa.
Who will get the final snort in Sport 7? We’ll discover out quickly sufficient.
BY THE NUMBERS: HABS-BOLTS
Right here’s how the Canadiens and Lightning match up by the numbers: