The Senators got to Carey Price often in a 5-1 win to extend the series. (USATSI)
The Senators got to Carey Price often in a 5-1 win to extend the series. (USATSI)

Every night during the Stanley Cup playoffs, Eye On Hockey writers Adam Gretz and Chris Peters will bring you up to speed everything you need to know about all of the action around the NHL. Here's what you need to know about Canadiens vs. Senators Game 5.

Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens, Game 5

Senators 5, Canadiens 1 | Canadiens lead series 3-2 | Game 6 Sunday

Game 5 in a nutshell: The Canadiens generated a lot of shots, but a lack of creativity and an inability to get chances from in tight helped do them in. Craig Anderson was also a big part of that as his performance in the first period helped give the Senators a chance to open the scoring, which they did. Ottawa got out to a three-goal lead before the Canadiens could answer. By that time, it was too late, and we've got ourselves a series.

Turning point: Bobby Ryan's goal 9:29 into the first period came after the Canadiens had essentially controlled the first portion of the game. Montreal had the first seven shots on goal in the game and were all over the Senators to start. Ryan's goal calmed things down and allowed the Sens to play a little more confidently. That didn't change the trend of Montreal controlling the shot attempts, but the atmosphere of the game changed the second that puck got past Carey Price. Patrick Wiercioch's goal to extend the lead helped.

Three things we learned

1. Once again, Craig Anderson was brilliant for the Senators. Perhaps the best stretch of the game came very early on when he was under barrage by a strong early push from the Canadiens. Anderson calmly shut the door early and allowed his team to build up a 3-0 lead before finally allowing a goal early in the third period. Even after that, he was unshaken. Anderson finished the game with 45 saves to keep the Senators alive in the series.

2. On the night he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist, Carey Price didn't have his best game. He got a piece of Ryan's shot for the game's first goal, but couldn't corral it and that kind of set the tone for the rest of the evening. The Senators did a good enough job creating traffic to make things hard on him. He was beaten on a screen by Patrick Wiercioch and Erik Karlsson also scored on a shot through some bodies. Erik Condra's goal to make it 4-1 came off a breakway. The Habs didn't lose this game because of Price, but it shows what can happen when he isn't able to bail them out like normal. The surprising thing is that the Habs actually did a good job of limiting shots on him early. The right ones got through and they couldn't give him the scoring support.

3. When a team is down 3-0 in a series, all they have is a glimmer of hope. When it's 3-1, they have another day, that's it. When it's 3-2, they have belief. They still need two wins, but that first one makes this a one-game series. Going into Montreal and pulling out a win with their backs against the wall has to make the Senators believe that they are in the series. Now they get to play in front of their own fans and if Anderson keeps playing like he has, they have life. Another win and the Sens, who came back from a record deficit to even make the playoffs, will be in a position to do what only four teams in NHL history have done before them -- come back from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Video of the game: Ryan's goal was a squeaker, but it was also his first after a 16-game drought. This isn't a great highlight, but Ryan's reaction is. He was awfully relieved to get that monkey off his back. If Ryan can get things going offensively, the Sens are a lot more threatening. That goal clearly meant a lot to him.