Six players out as Canadiens and Lightning make last-minute lineup changes
Brendan Gallagher gives Martin St-Louis a new lineup card as the Canadiens appear set to make a clear Game 5 change.
That is the real story out of Tampa. Montreal still did not officially reveal its full lineup, but the morning clues were loud enough.
The biggest one was Oliver Kapanen skating with the extras at the optional session. In this spot, that usually tells you everything you need to know.
And the other side of that clue matters just as much. Gallagher did not take the ice, which strongly points to the veteran coming back into the lineup tonight.
That is a real roster move, not a side note. Gallagher has not yet played in this series, and Montreal is walking into a 2-2 matchup that now feels like a reset.
The likely fit is easy to spot too. It would not be surprising to see Gallagher reunited with Josh Anderson and Phillip Danault, which would give the Canadiens a more familiar, heavier line for a road game.
That kind of move makes sense in this series. Montreal has needed more push, more straight-line pressure, and more veteran bite in the hard areas.
Oliver Kapanen is skating with the reserves this morning. He is on the ice with Engstrom, Veleno, Laine, Fowler, and Montembeault.
Noah Dobson is also skating. "
Canadiens and Lightning hit by six-player shakeup ahead of game
The article also makes clear that Noah Dobson joined his teammates on the ice for the first time since getting hurt. That is encouraging, but not enough yet to put him back in tonight's lineup.
So the clearer takeaway is this: Montreal seems to be getting Gallagher back, but not Dobson.
And the full list of players expected out tonight is revealing. The six names identified as out are Oliver Kapanen, Joe Veleno, Patrik Laine, Noah Dobson, Adam Engstrom, and Samuel Montembeault.
That says plenty about where Martin St-Louis is leaning. He wants a more experienced winger back in the fight, while several younger or unavailable pieces stay on the outside.
Kapanen is the player taking the hit here, and that is not nothing. A young center losing his spot before a swing game always says something about what the coach thinks the night requires.
Dobson skating is still a good sign for Montreal beyond tonight. But until he is fully back, the Canadiens still have to find a way through Tampa without one of their most important defensemen.
For now, Gallagher is the name that changes the feel. In a series tied 2-2, his return gives Montreal more edge, more noise, and one more veteran who knows exactly what a Game 5 is supposed to look like.
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YESTERDAY
APRIL 28, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Kirill Kaprizov | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Evan Bouchard | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Leon Draisaitl | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Matthew Boldy | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Miro Heiskanen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jason Robertson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Connor McDavid | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zach Hyman | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alexander Killorn | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Elias Lindholm | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Michael McCarron | 1 | - | 1 | |
| David Pastrnak | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Vasily Podkolzin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mats Zuccarello | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Matt Duchene | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cutter Gauthier | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan Hartman | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Quinn Hughes | - | 1 | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||