Playoffs Preview and Live Thread, May 12

Yesterday's playoff rest day was horrible, so welcome back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for another edition of...

Don't Get Eliminated!!!

Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 6

Lighting Lead 3-2

7:30 PM EST on NBCSN

After stealing the first two road games in Montreal and jumping out to a gigantic 3-0 series lead, the Lightning faltered twice and now find themselves leading the Canadiens 3-2 in the series. What's worse for the young, upstart Florida team, is that if they are unable to close out tonight's Game 6, they'll find themselves in the deafening Bell Centre for the decisive Game 7.

If the Lightning want to close this out, however, they'll have to do it without the help of winger Ryan Callahan. Callahan, who has 3 assists and is a +7 in the playoffs so far, is out indefinitely after an emergency appendectomy on Monday night. Bad, bad news for a Lightning squad that's struggled to get the puck on net in the latter half of this second round series. Rookie Jonathan Drouin seems like the obvious choice to replace Callahan, but Coach Cooper says "Not so fast:"

As of right now #lightning Jonathan Drouin won't replace Ryan Callahan tonight. Kind of a surprise to be honest. #tvasports

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 12, 2015

Drouin has 4 shots, no points, and is a -4 in three playoff games this year.

The Canadiens, meanwhile look to claw their way back into this series just weeks after almost allowing Ottawa to do the same. Carey Price continues to play sensational in net for the Habs, and their defense has tightened up in the second half of the series, allowing significantly fewer shots on goal. In Game 5, the Canadiens were carried by a pair of unlikely heroes with an early goal by Devante Smith-Pelly and a late on by Pierre-Alexander Parenteau. Here's PA's game winner:

Root for the Lightning: If you're still a little mad about PK Subban slashing Stone.

Root for the Canadiens: If you miss Pappy smiles :D