Canadiens’ Playoff Hopes Ride on Carrier’s Situation Ahead of Game 5

BROSSARD, QC — The Montreal Canadiens have faced a challenging season, starting with a record of 12-16-3 on December 18, the day they acquired defenceman Alexandre Carrier. Since then, the team has turned its season around, going 28-15-8, giving them a .627 points percentage, which ranks ninth in the NHL and third in the Eastern Conference.

As the Canadiens prepare for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, Carrier was absent from practice on Tuesday. Head coach Martin St. Louis suggested that Carrier may travel with the team to Washington, but his participation remains uncertain. Carrier’s presence is crucial as the Canadiens are down 3-1 in the series.

Carrier suffered injuries during Game 4 on Sunday due to heavy hits from Capitals players Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. St. Louis praised Carrier’s play and commitment, stating, “He’s just trying to gain territory, and he’s not afraid to put his body on the line.” The coach added that minimizing such risks would be beneficial.

If Carrier cannot play, the Canadiens may revert to strategies they employed last season, opting for rookie Lane Hutson, who has been effective while filling in on the right side. Both he and partner Jayden Struble have performed well, controlling nearly 60 percent of expected goals when on the ice together.

In addition to Carrier’s potential absence, goaltender Sam Montembeault remains questionable after leaving Game 3 with an injury. St. Louis was uncertain about Montembeault’s condition when pressed on the team’s travel roster to Washington.

Meanwhile, forward Patrik Laine returned to practice on Tuesday after missing Games 3 and 4 due to an upper-body injury. Laine’s absence allowed rookie Ivan Demidov to excel on the power play, creating dangerous scoring opportunities alongside Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.

Caufield expressed confidence in the team’s current power-play format, stating, “It feels nice to kind of be back there, and obviously I’ve played there before.” If Laine is ready to rejoin the lineup, the team might consider keeping the current successful power-play unit intact.

As the Canadiens prepare for a pivotal Game 5, the outcome could hinge on Carrier’s availability and the team’s ability to adapt under pressure. The team aims to replicate their success from the past, where six players overcame a similar series deficit in 2021.