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Lloyd Christmas: What do you think the chances are of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together? Mary Swanson: Well, Lloyd, that's difficult to say. I mean, we don't really... Lloyd Christmas: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances? Mary Swanson: Not good. Lloyd Christmas: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred? Mary Swanson: I'd say more like one out of a million. Lloyd Christmas: So you're telling me there's a chance... YEAH!
Like Lloyd Christmas, The Montreal Canadiens took to the ice in Game 4 hoping for a chance. A chance to play another 60 minutes together. A chance to bring this series back to the Bell Centre. A chance to let the first seed of doubt creep into the Tampa Bay Lightning's heads.
Mission accomplished.
Make no mistake, there is a long road to travel before the Habs are on even footing, but last night's contest did a lot to breathe life into this team and this series. It seemed as if Montreal finally made an adjustment and entered last night's game trying to make plays, not simply to get pucks on net. The result was a flurry of goals that chased Ben Bishop from the net. Andrei Vasilevskiy couldn't stem the tide and Montreal had a 5-0 lead before the midway mark of the second period. They cruised to a 6-2 victory, absolutely dominating Tampa Bay in the process.
Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais, Andrei Markov and Alex Galchenyuk all awoke from post season slumps or slumbers and paced their team to a one sided victory. Montreal was full value for their effort and execution last night. Unlike Games 1 and 3, their tenacity was rewarded.
From the Habs perspective, they are now in the midst of three one-game series. There is no value contemplating Game 6 or Game 7 scenarios. They earned the right to play Game 5 at home. They have the opportunity to tighten the collective collars of the Lightning considerably. The gulf between opportunity and reality can only be filled with another superb 60-minute effort on home ice.
The Canadiens' win over Toronto in the season finale is looking huge right now.
A Game 5 with a raucous Bell Centre is certainly a destination Tampa would have preferred to avoid. The Lightning, so far, have not been very good in this series. A power play explosion in Game 2 aside, they have been outplayed by Montreal for large stretches of this series. Tampa can obviously erase all doubts and move on to the second round with a top-notch effort. It just seems like the longer we wait for their best, and this includes the Detroit series, the more we question whether it is coming.
In homage to a retiring David Letterman, here are 10 things to ponder for game 5: 1) Ben Bishop. Is he hurt? The diving, the shaky goals, and the inability to hold on to his stick combine to make us question whether Bishop is 100%. He has made the necessary saves, including some real beauties, but he looks like he has holes moving laterally. Was Game 4’s performance an aberration or a sign of things to come?
2) Galchenyuk/ Desharnais/ Parenteau. They looked dynamite in Game 4. Can they summon the magic again? Habs are dying for production and this trio will have favourable match ups against the Lightning's third and fourth line.
3) Andrei Markov. Trick or treat. Will we see an aging Markov or the ageless wonder? A beautiful skate to stick finish was a reminder of the immense skill #79 still possesses.
4) The Triplets. They are Tampa's best unit and help to mask a struggling Stamkos and an uninspiring bottom six. They have helped stake Tampa to this 3-0 advantage. Always dangerous, they have been held nicely in check save for the power play and the last second of Game 3. Another dominant effort could punch Tampa's ticket to the conference finals.
5) Seen Stamkos? The Lightning's superstar sniper has been MIA. Obviously, a guy with his skills needs only a sliver of daylight to strike, as evidenced by game 2, but more, much more, is needed from Tampa's captain.
6) The Refs. Yikes, not the official's best work this series. There is no consistency from game to game or shift to shift. Apparent trips, cross checks and holds go uncalled. All of a sudden a dive or weak call is whistled down. You hope that these guys can find the balance and not be remembered in ten years for some very uneven work.
7) Pacioretty/Plekanec/Gallagher. Montreal's most dangerous trio came untracked in Game 4. They have handled their even strength match ups vs. both the Stamkos line and the Triplets very well. They need to produce. Legacies can be built in the next three games. So can off-season trades.
8) The Bell Centre. Hockeys' mecca. You play 82 games to get in and get home ice. Can this crowd bring out the Habs’s best performance? A performance they so badly want to see. A Habs goal in the first ten minutes could tear the roof off. It starts with Ginette, where can Montreal's faithful take it from there?
9) The Legend of PK. If you are going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. Subban has built an impressive playoff record early in his young career, with 53 games already under his belt. He has scored big goals and made big plays to turn the tide for his team. Can he bring it under the season’s brightest lights? Don’t bet against #76.
10) We save the best for last. This series has yet to see Carey Price's best. In the series breakdown, we expected Price to have to steal a game or two for Montreal to emerge. With no margin for error, Price will be faced with the task winning four in a row vs. the Lighting. This is a tall task, but one for which #31 is uniquely qualified. At 27 years of age, Price is squarely in his prime. No one is guaranteed a chance to compete for the Cup every spring. This is his time and his team to lead.