The Habs are giving Canadians just one dog in the fight that is the NHL playoffs, as Montreal prepares to face Atlantic Division rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
The schedule will unfold as follows:
- April 16: Canadiens @ Lightning, 7 p.m. ET
- April 18: Canadiens @ Lightning, 7 p.m. ET
- April 20: Lightning @ Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET
- April 22: Lightning @ Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET
- April 24: Canadiens @ Lightning, 7 p.m. ET (if necessary)
- April 27: Lightning @ Canadiens, time to be decided (if necessary)
- April 29: Canadiens @ Lightning, time to be decided (if necessary)
Norris Trophy-winning defenceman P.K. Subban will be pitted against forward Steven Stamkos, who won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2012 as the league's top goal-scorer.
Stamkos missed 45 games this season after fracturing his tibia, an injury that took him out of the Team Canada lineup at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.
Subban, meanwhile, was also named to the team, but only played once in a preliminary round game against Austria that Canada won 6-0.
Both stars are undoubtedly hungry for victory.
Playoff success often comes down to how well you play in net, and on that count, Montreal can lean on gold medal-winning goaltender Carey Price, whose .927 save percentage is third-best in the league.
Tampa doesn't have as much certainty. Goaltender Ben Bishop left a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an upper-body injury last Tuesday and is listed as day-to-day.
Montreal also enters the playoffs with a +11 goal differential, having scored and surrendered fewer goals than their opopnents. The Lightning come in with a +25 differential.
Habs fans can only hope that they come out on top, so that their team faces the first-place Boston Bruins in a later round.
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