The Montreal Canadiens kept their Stanley Cup playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their first-round series, broadcast exclusively on TVA Sports. The win ties the best-of-seven series at two games apiece and sets the stage for a pivotal Game 5 in Toronto on Tuesday.

What Happened: Turning Points of Game 4

The Canadiens entered Monday’s contest facing elimination after dropping Games 2 and 3 by a combined score of 10-3. Coach Martin St. Louis made two key lineup changes, inserting rookie defenseman Justin Barron and forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, both of whom played pivotal roles in the victory.

The game’s first critical moment came midway through the opening period when Canadiens forward Cole Caufield deflected a shot from the point past Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov to give Montreal a 1-0 lead. The goal, Caufield’s third of the series, was his first in six games and snapped a personal scoring drought that had stretched back to the regular-season finale.

Toronto tied the game early in the second period on a power-play goal by Auston Matthews, his fourth of the series. The Maple Leafs carried momentum into the third period, outshooting Montreal 12-5 in the frame, but Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault stood tall with a series of highlight-reel saves, including a sprawling pad stop on a breakaway by Mitch Marner with 8:42 remaining.

The turning point arrived at 14:37 of the third period when Nick Suzuki stripped Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly at the Toronto blue line and fed a streaking Juraj Slafkovský for a breakaway goal. Slafkovský’s first playoff goal of his career gave Montreal a 2-1 lead and ignited the Bell Centre crowd, which had been subdued for much of the night.

The Canadiens sealed the victory with two empty-net goals in the final minute, first by Christian Dvorak and then by Brendan Gallagher, who was playing in his first game since suffering a lower-body injury in Game 2. Gallagher’s return to the lineup provided a emotional lift for the team and the fans, many of whom chanted his name as he skated off the ice.

Key Numbers That Explain the Win

• 53.8% faceoff win percentage: Montreal dominated the dot, winning 34 of 63 faceoffs, including 12 of 15 in the defensive zone during the final 10 minutes. Suzuki’s 17 wins tied a franchise playoff record for a single game.
• 22 saves on 24 shots in the third period: Montembeault’s .917 save percentage in the final frame was his highest in any playoff period this season. His save on Marner’s breakaway was later voted the NHL’s “Play of the Game” by league officials.
• 4-for-4 on the penalty kill: The Canadiens killed all four Toronto power plays, including a crucial 5-on-3 advantage in the second period that lasted 1:17. The unit’s success rate in the series improved to 85.7% after entering the game at 66.7%.

Injury Updates and Lineup Implications

The status of two key players had been a major storyline heading into Game 4. Forward Josh Anderson and defenseman Mike Matheson were both absent from the Canadiens’ morning skate on Monday, fueling speculation about their availability. TVA Sports confirmed that Anderson, who has been nursing a lower-body injury since Game 1, was held out as a precautionary measure. Matheson, meanwhile, returned to the lineup after missing Game 3 with an undisclosed illness.

For Toronto, defenseman Jake McCabe played through a reported upper-body injury but logged just 12:47 of ice time, his lowest total of the series. Coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters postgame that McCabe’s status for Game 5 would be determined after further evaluation on Tuesday.

What Which means for the Series

With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 in Toronto on Tuesday night (7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT, broadcast on TVA Sports and Sportsnet) becomes a must-win for both teams. A Canadiens victory would give them a 3-2 series lead and the opportunity to close out the Maple Leafs at home in Game 6. Conversely, a Toronto win would put them one victory away from advancing to the second round for the first time since 2020.

Historically, teams that win Game 4 after losing Games 2 and 3 have gone on to win the series just 29% of the time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, according to Hockey-Reference.com. However, the Canadiens have defied long odds before, most notably in 2021 when they rallied from down 3-1 in the first round against the Maple Leafs to win the series in seven games.

Tactical Adjustments and What to Watch in Game 5

Montreal’s coaching staff will likely look to build on their improved defensive-zone coverage in Game 4. The Canadiens allowed just 24 shots on goal, their lowest total in any playoff game this season, and limited Toronto’s top line of Matthews, Marner, and William Nylander to just three even-strength shots combined.

“We were better structured in our own end,” St. Louis said postgame. “We didn’t give them the same looks as in Games 2 and 3. If You can maintain that up, we’ll be in good shape.”

For the Maple Leafs, the power play will be a focal point after going 0-for-4 in Game 4. Toronto’s man-advantage unit, which entered the series ranked second in the NHL during the regular season at 28.5%, has managed just two goals on 12 opportunities in the playoffs.

“We’re getting chances, but we’re not finishing,” Keefe said. “We need to be better in front of the net and make sure we’re getting pucks through.”

How to Follow the Rest of the Series

• Game 5: Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT at Scotiabank Arena (Toronto). Broadcast on TVA Sports (French) and Sportsnet (English).
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT at Bell Centre (Montreal).
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT at Scotiabank Arena (Toronto).

For real-time updates, follow the official Twitter accounts of the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as the NHL for league-wide playoff coverage.

Key Takeaways

• Montreal’s depth stepped up: Players like Slafkovský, Harvey-Pinard, and Barron, who combined for just one point in the first three games, contributed two goals and an assist in Game 4.
• Special teams made the difference: The Canadiens’ penalty kill was flawless, while Toronto’s power play, which had scored in each of the first three games, was shut out.
• Goaltending was the story: Montembeault’s 34 saves, including 12 in the third period, were the difference in a game where Toronto outshot Montreal 36-28.
• Gallagher’s return provided a spark: The Canadiens’ captain played 14:22 and recorded an empty-net goal, his first point of the series.
• Series shifts to Toronto: The Maple Leafs will have home-ice advantage in Game 5, but Montreal has shown it can win in any building.

What’s Next

The focus now shifts to Toronto for Game 5 on Tuesday night. The Canadiens will look to carry their momentum from Game 4, while the Maple Leafs will aim to regain control of the series on home ice. With both teams facing pressure to avoid falling into a 3-2 hole, expect another tightly contested matchup.

For Canadiens fans, the message is clear: the playoffs are far from over. For Maple Leafs supporters, the question remains: can Toronto close out the series before it returns to Montreal for Game 6?

What’s your prediction for Game 5? Will the Canadiens complete the comeback, or will the Maple Leafs advance to the second round? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Twitter.