Five games into the first-round Eastern Conference matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, Martin St-Louis holds a clear coaching edge over Jon Cooper. The Canadiens lead 3-2 after a gritty 3-2 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night in Tampa.[1][2] St-Louis’ gut instincts, drawn from his Hall of Fame playing career, have produced key lineup decisions that swung momentum toward Montreal.
While Cooper boasts over 700 more games of head coaching experience, St-Louis’ in-game adjustments have exposed Tampa’s overreliance on top lines. The series has been back-and-forth, but Montreal’s depth—fueled by St-Louis’ choices—puts them one win from advancing.
St-Louis trusts his instincts with tough calls
St-Louis refused to bench Kirby Dach after a costly overtime mistake in Game 2, where the young forward iced the puck and lost coverage on Tampa’s winner. Instead, he challenged Dach publicly, saying, “I’d never give up on a person unless he’s given up on himself.”[3]
Dach responded with two goals and an assist across Games 3 and 5, including a quick tiebreaker in Game 5 just 11 seconds after Tampa equalized.[4] This redemption arc highlights St-Louis’ player-first approach, honed from years of being underestimated as an undersized winger.
In Game 3, Dach’s contributions helped set up Lane Hutson’s overtime winner, a Weber-esque blast that sealed a 3-2 victory at Bell Centre.[5] Dach later praised his coach: “I think Marty is a phenomenal coach and a great person. He’s going to level with you on a personal level.”
St-Louis’ philosophy emphasizes resilience over reaction, a stark contrast to typical knee-jerk benchings.
Gallagher delivers in series debut
With the series tied 2-2 heading into Game 5, St-Louis inserted veteran Brendan Gallagher, sidelined for the first four games amid questions about his age and speed. Gallagher wasted no time, driving the net on his first shift to score his first playoff goal in five years, giving Montreal a 1-0 lead.[6][7]
St-Louis explained post-game: “It came time in the series where I felt like we probably needed a little more of that, and I know Gally is gonna give you that. I’m really happy the way he’s handled everything.”[8]
Gallagher’s physical presence provided the emotional spark needed in hostile Amalie Arena, boosting the bottom lines. He added: “I got some catching up to do. You grind all season to have this opportunity, you just want to enjoy it.”
This move underscored St-Louis’ knack for reading the room, opting for grit over youth like rookie Oliver Kapanen.
Cooper’s top-heavy reliance shows cracks
Jon Cooper’s Lightning have scored 10 of their 13 goals from the top two lines, a stubborn approach that’s left depth wanting.[9] Despite rallying for a Game 4 win, Tampa struggles against Montreal’s balanced attack.
Cooper mirrored some St-Louis tactics ahead of Game 2 but couldn’t match the Canadiens’ bottom-six production, which accounts for seven of Montreal’s 14 goals.[10]
Post-Game 4, Cooper admitted frustration after trailing by two: “If you have a two-goal lead, you win more than you lose.” Yet, his lineup stagnation persists.
Tampa’s goaltending and power play lag behind Montreal’s, amplifying coaching disparities.
Breaking down the series stats
Montreal’s edge shines in key areas:
- Bottom lines scoring: Habs bottom two lines: 7 goals; Lightning: 3.
- Power play: Montreal more dangerous, converting opportunities Dach and others created.
- Goaltending: Jakub Dobes’ 38 saves in Game 5 outdueled Andrei Vasilevskiy.[1]
- Depth defense: Lane Hutson’s poise anchors the back end.
| Category | Montreal | Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Series goals | 14 | 13 |
| PP efficiency | Stronger unit | Underperforms |
| Bottom-6 goals | 7 | 3 |
These numbers reflect St-Louis squeezing every ounce from his roster. For full 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs first-round schedule and results, check the latest updates.
Tampa must adapt or face elimination.
Game 6 looms in Montreal
Game 6 shifts to Bell Centre, where the raucous crowd could propel the Habs. St-Louis hinted at more surprises: “In Game 6 in Montreal, don’t be surprised if St-Louis taps someone new to be the hero.”
Cooper faces pressure to unlock his depth against a surging Canadiens squad. See detailed NHL playoffs tracker for series results and top scorers.
St-Louis’ emotional intelligence gives Montreal the driver’s seat. Relive Game 5 highlights on NHL.com.[2]
As the playoffs intensify, St-Louis’ decisions prove experience alone doesn’t win series—instincts do. If Montreal closes it out, expect praise for the coach who’s rewriting narratives with overlooked talent. Tampa fights on, but the edge belongs to St-Louis.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.