Gallagher: 'You don't want it to end'

TORONTO - Forward Brendan Gallagher, defenseman Erik Gustafsson and interim head coach Dominique Ducharme spoke with reporters via Zoom on Thursday morning ahead of Game 5 against the Maple Leafs.

SHOP: CHic Playoff Line
Here are a few highlights from their respective chats:
Gallagher on the Canadiens' approach to facing elimination:
You can't let the situation get too big for you. It's a hockey game. You know you have to win, you know what you have to do to be able to play your best individually, and if every individual does what they're capable of doing, we feel like we give ourselves a pretty good shot. It's not like we need anyone to put the team on their back. We just need every single guy to show up and play a strong game, a committed game. It's going to be emotional. It's going to be tough to manage those things, obviously, because there are going to be highs and lows, but we just have to block out everything else in terms of the situation we're going through and just focus on winning one hockey game and really live in the moment. We just have to be in this thing as it's going on, focus on the present, control what we can control and have confidence that at the end of the night, if we do those things, we'll be where we want to be.

Gallagher on why he remains confident in this group:
We've responded well. It hasn't always been the easiest thing because of the grind. In terms of what our group has been through, the COVID stuff, the schedule stuff, the guys have battled really hard this year. You don't want it to end. You always say that every single year, but when you get a team like the one we have where you want to continue to play, you feel fortunate to do this. You want it to last one more game, so you just keep fighting to survive and earn one more day together. It's a pretty good feeling when you're able to do that.

Gustafsson on his expectations for himself in Game 5:
I've got to play a simple game. I've got to make good choices with and without the puck. It's going to be fun to get out there and try to help this team to win.

Gustafsson on fixing the Canadiens' power play:
I think we've got to move the puck a little bit quicker. We've had chances to shoot, but we end up passing instead. We've got to get the puck to the net a little bit more and open up seams and the passes we want. If we can move the puck a little bit quicker and shoot the puck a little bit more, it's going to help.
Ducharme on his plan for utilizing Gustafsson tonight:
He's in the lineup to help the power play. He's patient with the puck. He finds good options on the power play. I think he can help us in that area.

Ducharme on the Habs' veterans taking their respective games up a notch with the season on the line:
We know what to expect. We know what we need to do. Those guys aren't the only ones who need to step up. They definitely have an impact on our team with their actions and their words, but we're going to need everybody. It's that simple.