The skinny: The Canadiens have a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series against Ottawa, but the Senators have the momentum after posting a 5-1 win Friday night at the Bell Centre. Goaltender Craig Anderson, the architect of the Senators’ 2013 playoff win against the Canadiens, made 45 saves as he followed up on his clutch 1-0 shutout win Thursday in Game 4. In the three games since he replaced Andrew Hammond after Game 2, Anderson has stopped 122 of the 125 shots he has faced and has outplayed Carey Price, who was named Friday as one of the three finalists for the Vézina Trophy that goes to the NHL’s top goaltender. The Senators will face their third consecutive elimination game when the series returns to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Sunday for Game 6.
Quick start fizzles: The Canadiens had seven shots on goal before Kyle Turris registered Ottawa’s first shot at 8:42 of the first period. The momentum turned when the underperforming Bobby Ryan scored his first goal of the playoffs at 9:29 with a shot from the point that caught the inside of the far post. This is one Price might have stopped, but he was dealing with Mika Zibanejad in front of the net. Price had no chance of seeing the puck when Patrick Wiercioch made it 2-0 at 15:38. There were four bodies in front as Wiercioch wound up from the hash marks after a weak clearing attempt by Brian Flynn.
-
![Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Canadiens during second period of Game 5 of Eastern Conference quarter-final series at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Canadiens during second period of Game 5 of Eastern Conference quarter-final series at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015.
-
![Players from the Ottawa Senators and th Montreal Canadiens fight during third period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action in Montreal, Friday, April 24, 2015.]()
Players from the Ottawa Senators and th Montreal Canadiens fight during third period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action in Montreal, Friday, April 24, 2015.
-
![Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, right, is scored on by Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan, not pictured, as Ottawa Senators center Mika Zibanejad, left, looks out for a rebound during the first period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, right, is scored on by Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan, not pictured, as Ottawa Senators center Mika Zibanejad, left, looks out for a rebound during the first period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)
-
![Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson, right, makes a save against Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec, left, during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)]()
Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson, right, makes a save against Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec, left, during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)
-
![Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone, left, celebrates a goal by teammat Erik Karlsson, not pictured, as Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, right, looks on during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)]()
Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone, left, celebrates a goal by teammat Erik Karlsson, not pictured, as Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, right, looks on during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)
-
![Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson makes a save against the Canadiens' Alex Galchenyuk during Game 5 of Eastern Conference quarter-final series at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson makes a save against the Canadiens' Alex Galchenyuk during Game 5 of Eastern Conference quarter-final series at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015.
-
![MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin falls after being hit in the face by Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone, not pictured, during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)]()
MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin falls after being hit in the face by Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone, not pictured, during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)
-
![MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson makes a save during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)]()
MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson makes a save during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)
-
![MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price reacts after a penalty was called against him for delay of game during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)]()
MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price reacts after a penalty was called against him for delay of game during the second period of game five of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)
-
![Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens takes off on a break-away in front of Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.]()
Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens takes off on a break-away in front of Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
-
![Montreal Canadiens right wing Brandon Prust (8) knocks down Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) as Ottawa Senators defenseman Patrick Wiercioch (46) moves in during third period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action Friday, April 24, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz]()
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brandon Prust (8) knocks down Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) as Ottawa Senators defenseman Patrick Wiercioch (46) moves in during third period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action Friday, April 24, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
-
![Mark Borowiecki #74 of the Ottawa Senators passes the puck in front of Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.]()
Mark Borowiecki #74 of the Ottawa Senators passes the puck in front of Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
-
![Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien and players Jacob De La Rose,left, Tomas Plekanec, center, and Brendan Gallagher, right, watch the final seconds of their 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators in thir period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action Friday, April 24, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz]()
Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien and players Jacob De La Rose,left, Tomas Plekanec, center, and Brendan Gallagher, right, watch the final seconds of their 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators in thir period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action Friday, April 24, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
-
![Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) trades cross-checks with Montreal Canadiens right wing Brandon Prust (8)during third period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action Friday, April 24, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz]()
Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) trades cross-checks with Montreal Canadiens right wing Brandon Prust (8)during third period of Game 5 NHL first round playoff hockey action Friday, April 24, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
-
![Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson is congratulated by teammate Curtis Lazar after victory over the Canadiens in Game 5 of the the Eastern Conference quarter-final series at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015.]()
Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson is congratulated by teammate Curtis Lazar after victory over the Canadiens in Game 5 of the the Eastern Conference quarter-final series at the Bell Centre on April 24, 2015.
-
![MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Ginette Reno sings the Canadian national anthem before the start of the first period of game five of the NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)]()
MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 24, 2015 -- Ginette Reno sings the Canadian national anthem before the start of the first period of game five of the NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final match between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday, April 24, 2015. (Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette)
Too little, too late: The Canadiens learned the value of a net presence when Tom Gilbert ended Anderson’s shutout at 1:44 of the third period. Dale Weise screened the goaltender as Gilbert took a shot from the point. Ryan got a stick on the shot, which went through Weise’s legs before eluding Anderson. But any thoughts of a comeback ended when Erik Condra scored on a breakaway at 14:02 after a giveaway by Andrei Markov.
Specialty items, Part I: Ottawa had four power plays and managed only two shots on goal. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the two shots produced two goals. Erik Karlsson made it 3-0 with a shot from the point at 14:29 of the second period. Earlier in the period, Tomas Plekanec had a short-handed breakaway but Anderson made the stop. Seconds later, Max Pacioretty led a shorthanded odd-man rush, but the opportunity disappeared when he decided not to shoot and passed the puck behind Lars Eller. Mike Hoffman completed the rout with a power-play goal in the final minute.
Specialty items, Part II: The Canadiens continue to struggle on the power play. They had a man advantage in the first minute of the game when Ottawa was penalized for too many men on the ice, but failed to get a shot on goal. They were 0-for-3 on the power play with three shots. They are 1-for-19 for the series.
How Swede it is: Karlsson and Zibanejad were cheered by former Ottawa captain and fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson. And the Scandinavian theme carried over to the media dining room, which served Swedish meatballs.
