PITTSBURGH -- Momentum has been hard to come by in this Penguins-Canadiens series, with neither team able to put together two wins in a row. But Montreal forward Dominic Moore said you can't be hoping for momentum at this time of year.
"The playoffs are so unpredictable, I think it's a mistake to buy into any of that," he said. "I think the focus always needs to be putting forth your best effort at the moment."
The Habs would like to seize momentum after their 3-2 victory in Game 4.
"I'm sure they thought that after Game 3, but you can't really think that way," Moore said. "You just need to stay in the moment and, win or lose, be ready for the next challenge."
Still, there is definitely the sense the Canadiens are enjoying this improbable playoff run.
"Definitely," Moore said. "For us, we knew it would be a huge challenge in the first round and we knew the second round would not get any easier, and I think we've enjoyed the challenge, though we've still got a lot of work ahead of us."
Montreal coach Jacques Martin said he thinks his players have thrived on playing against top players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who have combined for one goal and zero five-on-five points in the first four games of the series.
"I think it's kind of an inner motivation," Martin said. "I think our guys have responded."
Defenseman Jaroslav Spacek will remain out of the lineup for the Canadiens. "Still not quite ready but progressing," Martin said.
Clutch Pens?
Crosby was asked about the Pens' ability to deliver in the clutch the past couple of playoff years."I think there has always been a confidence in everybody and a trust there that when the time comes and when it is important, everyone is going to do their job," he said. "That is something that is built. It doesn't happen overnight. But I think that trust is there and it is important, especially as the games get bigger."
