After a dramatic win on Tuesday night, the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal shifts back to the Bell Centre in Montreal.
With a 3-1 series edge, the Ottawa Senators have a chance to punch their ticket to the second round with a win tonight. Players and coaches have been saying it the past couple days but the fourth win is always the hardest and Paul MacLean knows his team will have to be at their best to finish off the Canadiens tonight.
The Habs will be without starting goaltender Carey Price, Brian Gionta, Brandon Prust and Ryan White. Max Pacioretty, the team’s leading goal scorer, is playing injured but will be in the lineup.
Peter Budaj gets the start in goal and he’ll be backed up by a fellow by the name of Robert Mayer.
The Montreal Canadiens are like a wounded animal, scared and backed into a corner. And that’s what makes them so dangerous heading into Game 5. They’ll be fighting for their playoff lives so it’s crucial the Senators start strong and avoid giving this team a reason to believe they can come back.
This series can turn on a dime with Game 6 and 7 scheduled on back to back nights this weekend. I don’t know how big a factor momentum really is in a playoff series but Ottawa certainly doesn’t want to lose this game and find out. Finish them off now while you have the chance.
Just an optional skate for the Sens this morning so a few guys weren’t out there. With that said, no changes expected to the Ottawa line up ahead of this one. MacLean has had his forward lines in a blender all series long but this is how they finished on Tuesday night. We'll see if he changes it up to start Game 5.
Conacher-Turris-Alfredsson
Michalek-Zibanejad-Silfverberg
Greening-Pageau-Condra
Kassian-Smith-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Phillips-Gonchar
Cowen-Gryba
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is just after 7:00 PM with the game available on CBC.
GO SENS GO!
