How to watch Rangers vs. Canadiens Game 5 online, TV schedule and preview
The Rangers can win the Eastern Conference, and the Prince of Wales Trophy, with a victory in Game 5 against the Canadiens on Wednesday evening.
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The Prince of Wales Trophy will be in the house on Tuesday night in Bell Centre, but the 20,000-plus in attendance hope it doesn’t make an appearance.
With a win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, the New York Rangers can eliminate the Montreal Canadiens and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since they won it all back in 1994. The Habs, meanwhile, are just trying to live for Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, which would be on Thursday if Montreal can pull out a win.
Canadiens vs. Rangers
Canadiens vs. Rangers
The big question for New York is the potential return of Derek Stepan, who broke his jaw in Game 3 after taking a shoulder to the face from Habs grinder Brandon Prust. Stepan took the morning skate, but his status is still up in the air according to Rangers coach Alain Vigneault.
“The only way he’s going to play tonight is if he gets full medical clearance,” Vigneault said. “That’s not going to be up to him. It’s going to be up to our medical staff to make sure that they feel he can play. There are a lot of things that have to fall into place for him to play tonight.”
Stepan’s absence in Game 3 was the first time he’d been out of the lineup all season long, and he’s a key piece on a Rangers team that’s gotten a lot out of all four of their forward lines in these playoffs. He’d no doubt help the Rangers if he’s able to play, but that’s a big if.
The Canadiens haven’t been drastically outplayed in the series, and are one bounce away from this being a much different series. Now they face three straight must-wins in a row, and Habs Eyes On The Prize detailed some of the things that need to change for that to happen.
It’s an uphill battle, but it all begins in Game 5 on Wednesday night. One game at a time, right Montreal?
New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens
Game 5, Eastern Conference Final | Rangers lead, 3-1
8 p.m. ET | Bell Centre | Montreal, Quebec
National TV: NBCSN (US) | CBC, RDS (Canada)
Live online stream at NBCSports.com (USA) and CBC.ca (Canada)
More: Canadiens blog | Rangers blog
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