The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up for a critical Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday, a contest that will determine whether they are trying to eliminate their Atlantic Division rivals on Friday night, or stave off elimination themselves.

Although defenseman Noah Dobson won’t play, he took the next step in his injury recovery, returning to the ice for the Habs’ optional skate on Wednesday.

The Summerside, Prince Edward Island native has been out of action since blocking a shot with his left hand during a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 11.

That ailment caused him to miss the beginning of the team’s first-round series, and it’s as of yet unknown whether he will be an option for either Game 6, or a potential Game 7 on Sunday. He finished the 2025-26 regular season with 12 goals and 47 points in 80 games, while averaging 22 and a half minutes of time on ice.

Dobson skated individually, but has yet to be cleared for full contact. Still, his presence is key for a Canadiens blue line that has heavily relied on Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson so far in Round 1. He is set to travel with the team to Tampa on Wednesday.

“It’s good to see him back. He’s feeling better,” said Hutson, who scored the overtime winner in Game 3, per NHL.com’s Sean Farrell. “When you see a player working to come back from an injury, it’s always encouraging. We’re happy to have him back. We hope he’ll be back playing soon.”

The Canadiens will have Juraj Slajkovsky in the lineup; he missed practice on Tuesday after absorbing a massive check from Lightning defenseman Max Crozier in the second period of Game 4’s 3-2 loss at the Bell Centre.

“If you let that moment define the series, you’re putting yourself in a bad spot,” head coach Martin St. Louis said of the check. “Don’t let moments like that define it. Rewrite it.”

This has been by far the closest series of the first round, with the first three games going to overtime and the Lightning winning by a single goal on Sunday.

Puck drops on what should be another dandy just past 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up for a critical Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday, a contest that will determine whether they are trying to eliminate their Atlantic Division rivals on Friday night, or stave off elimination themselves.