PUCK BITES Game 5 Preview:

Game 5 is upon us and it is time for the Montreal Canadiens to step up and close out this first round series vs. the Ottawa Senators. Here are my Puck Bites going into Game 5:

So far every game has been decided by just one goal. Tonight would certainly be a good night for the Habs to score the opening goal for the first time this series and keep the fans in the game. The Bleu-Blanc-Rouge faithful are ready to stand on their feet and do their part. No doubt Ginette Reno will do hers and inspire the players and fans alike.

There will be no lineup changes for the Canadiens tonight. Perhaps to the dismay of some, Michel Therrien is not panicking and believes in his troops. So far this series the Canadiens bottom 6 have been outplaying the top. For the Canadiens to win they need performances from their best players. Carey Price will bring it. So will P.K. Subban. Now is the perfect opportunity for Max Pacioretty to step up and make his mark in the series.

It might seem like a broken record but it sure would be great if the Canadiens power play woke up tonight. Towards the end of Game 4 Therrien finally shook up the power play lines and had Pacioretty with Plekanec and Gallagher. The Habs showed a little more life and even got a shot on net! The Canadiens need to build on that in Game 5. If the Canadiens can win the special teams battle, this series will be over very shortly.

The Senators know that all the pressure is on the Canadiens to win game 5. Will they sit back and wait to pounce on the Canadiens mistakes or will be they be charged from their game 4 win and come out strong? Last game Dave Cameron made a smart adjustment promoting Mike Hoffman to the 2nd line. A move that obviously paid off as Cameron is keeping his lines for tonight the same as they finished game 4. Mark Stone should also have some extra jump tonight coming off his well-deserved Calder Cup nomination.

The Canadiens know they have to better in game 5 than they were in game 4. They have to make the most of their opportunities and go for the win. The Senators have put up a very valiant effort this series. Each game has been incredibly close and the series could be just as easily tied. The Canadines though are a better team than the Senators. Their experience from last year’s playoffs should pay off in dividends tonight.

Hopefully, the Habs will help me look good and prove ‘Women’s Intuition’ correct with a series win, closing this out in 5 just as I predicted before the first puck drop ;-)

Bonus Puck Bite:

Congratulations to former Canadien Hal Gill on his retirement. His contributions to the Habs during his short time was inumerable. He mentored P.K. Subban, was instrumental to the Penalty Kill and helped lead the Habs past the 2nd round for the first time since 1993. There is no doubt in my mind that Hal could one day make an excellent assistant coach running the defencemen and any team would be very lucky to have him.

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