Brendan Gallagher appears set to return for the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, with all signs pointing to Oliver Kapanen heading to the press box for Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Canadiens and Lightning were tied 2-2 in the series entering the 7 p.m. ET matchup on April 29, 2026, and Gallagher was listed on the fourth line with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson in the projected lineup.
Gallagher, 33, had been used sparingly in recent weeks and last played on April 14 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Kapanen took part in the optional skate Wednesday morning, but the morning setup suggested Montreal was preparing to make room for Gallagher’s return.
That matters because Montreal needs depth as the series tightens, and its first line had not registered a 5-on-5 goal in the series at that point. Putting Gallagher back into the mix gives the Canadiens another veteran piece as they try to move ahead in a matchup that has been even through four games.
The question now is not whether Gallagher is close to playing again, but how much he can give Montreal after a nearly two-week gap and how the lineup shuffle affects a team looking for a breakthrough in Game 5.
