Brendan Gallagher took the ice for the first time this post-season after being a healthy scratch for the Montreal Canadiens’ first four playoff games, and made his debut in style.
The forward suited up Wednesday night for Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with the first-round series tied 2-2 — and exactly three minutes into the game.
Gallagher, 33, posted seven goals and 16 assists over 77 regular-season games in 2025-26.
This marks the 77th playoff game of his career. Entering Wednesday, the Edmonton native had 33 points in the post-season (13 goals, 20 assists).
Kapanen, meanwhile, has been held without a point through the first four games of the series and is playing only an average of 8:39 ice time per night.
The 22-year-old had 22 goals and 15 assists while suiting up in all 82 of the Canadiens’ regular-season games this year.
On the other end, Nick Paul came out of the Lightning lineup after suiting up for the first four games of the series. Instead, Conor Geekie will lace up for the Bolts.
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