Lightning, Canadiens and survival vs. killer instinct in Game 4

Game 4 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens is your classic “killer instinct” vs. “survival instinct” showdown.

The Bolts are up 3-0. Their collective foot is on the collective neck of the Canadiens, who haven’t played poorly in the series but also haven’t shown they can actually beat this Lightning team.

Giving them a win is giving them hope, and with two of three remaining games left at Bell Centre, hope’s the last thing you want to give them.

And so the words of the day were “killer instinct” for the Lightning.

“Our killer instinct needs to be really high tonight,’’ defenseman Jason Garrison said. “This is the toughest game, the closing out game. We have to make sure we come in there and play a full 60 minutes of our style of hockey and have that killer instinct.”

It also means playing better than the Lightning did in Game 3.

"We looked at video and saw our desperation level wasn't high enough," defenseman Victor Hedman said. "We are in a good position to finish it out on home ice but we have to expect them to have a high desperation level and play their best game of the series.”

In other words, to exhibit a survival instinct.

Listen to the words of Brendan Gallagher, via Dave Stubbs of the Gazette:

“Since I’ve been a Montreal Canadien, one thing we’ve always done is find ways to win games,” Gallagher said slowly, looking for the words. “Just seems like right now we’re finding ways to lose games. We’re playing good hockey, we’re just coming out on the wrong side of things.”

He took a deep breath and continued:

“That said, this team is full of character. I know we’re not going to give up. I know we’re not going to quit. You’ve got to win four but you can’t win four unless you win one. We’ve got to focus on the next one, but obviously, it’s disappointing.”

“We’re going to keep battling,” Gallagher said. “We love playing together. We’re going to try to earn one more game, try to earn 60 more minutes together.

“You talk playoff hockey — you talk about emotions, how high and low you get,” Gallagher said. “At the start of the playoffs, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We’ve dug ourselves a hole that’s going to be difficult to get out of, but if anyone’s capable of doing it, we know this group is.”

Of course, saying and doing are different things.

Gallagher has two goals in the postseason, including one in Game 3. Alex Galchenyuk doesn’t have a goal. Tomas Plekanec has one. David Desharnais has one. No disrespect to Tom Gilbert, but yeah, it’s a problem when he’s outscored all but two forwards in goals.

Montreal has gone from 2.61 GPG in the regular season to 1.78 in the postseason. Carey Price, we weep for thee...

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