He'll have to be against a New York Rangers squad that has dished out a postseason-leading 203 hits through four games. For their part, the Canadiens rank fourth with 164 hits to date.
With that in mind, Emelin's teammates are eager to welcome him back into the fold with the series tied at two games apiece.
"He means a lot to this team because he's very, very hard to play against. I know what it's like to play against guys like him. It can creep into your mind sometimes when you're skating with the puck," said captain Max Pacioretty, who has thrown his weight around to the tune of nine hits during the series. "He doesn't get away from his game ever, no matter what the series says or who we're playing against, and that's what makes him special."
Like Pacioretty, Beaulieu insists the way Emelin goes about his business can have a profound effect on the opposition.
"It's a big difference. Guys are definitely looking over their shoulder twice when he's on the ice. He brings that huge physical element to the game. He's a Russian tank. He's called that for a reason," stressed Beaulieu. "He's so big, so strong and so physical that he's a real pain to play against. He makes our identity that much stronger."