Montreal Canadiens' Top Five Playoff Performers

This year's Montreal Canadiens weren't even supposed to make a squeak in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, they've upset the top team in the NHL and are still on a roll.

And it is thanks to many playoff performers who have come out of the woodwork to help the Canadiens get far in the race for the cup.

Honourable Mention: PK Subban

Despite only having played the last few games of the Washington series, and having already had two playoff series under his belt (both with the Canadiens and with their AHL affiliate in Hamilton), PK Subban has finally found a niche on the Canadiens blue line.

His three points (one goal and two assists) in five games so far has helped the Canadiens in key games. This was especially true of Game Six in Montreal against Washington, as he picked up an assist on Mike Cammalleri's game-winning goal.

No. 5: Josh Gorges

Not known for his offensive skills, but rather for his defensive and penalty-killing skills, his help on the penalty kill with Hal Gill helped the Canadiens to stymie the league's top power play in the regular season against the Washington Capitals.

Gorges' leadership and his demeanour on the ice makes him as valuable a team member as Gill is. Gorges plays like a captain without a letter on his jersey.

No. 4: Brian Gionta

Brian Gionta remembers when he last won the Stanley Cup and wants it again.

But this time around it could be sweeter, as the No. 8 seed Canadiens are on a roll, and he is a big part of that.

Not only are his seven points (four goals and three assists) helping, but his experience and leadership are second to none. These qualities are especially useful for the Canadiens, who are, for the most part, inexperienced beyond the second round.

No. 3: Mike Cammalleri

Mike Cammalleri has finally found his niche in the playoffs with le bleu, blanc, et rouge.

His 13 points (eight goals and five assists) are among the leaders in the playoffs and has helped an offense that doesn't have as many weapons as the Washington Capitals or the Pittsburgh Penguins.

His eight goals doubles both Gionta and Tomas Plekanec's totals of four apiece so far these playoffs. His goals have been timely and much needed, as the Canadiens have hung on to games on more than one occasion this postseason.

No. 2: Hal Gill

Anyone miss Mike Komisarek?

Let's remember that "Komo" played only 34 games and wasn't much of a factor for his new team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Many thought Hal Gill was a joke signing. "Why add a slower defenseman who is coming to the end of his career?"

Forget that. He has been the impact player of the playoffs, bar only the goalie. If anything has gotten by Gill these playoffs, Jaroslav Halak has stopped it.

But Gill has made the netminder's jobs a lot easier with his size and his strength. His penalty killing against Washington was legendary, and he has been able to contain Sidney Crosby for the most part in round two.

Not re-signing Gill may have been the biggest mistake the Penguins made, because now he may be the very thing they don't want to play against.

No. 1 Jaroslav Halak

Where did this guy come from?

It was about the second or third coming-out party for Jaroslav Halak, but it finally did what he wanted—got him noticed in the hockey world.

He almost took the Canadiens to the playoffs in 2006-07. He also then took the Canadiens into the playoffs this season. And finally he made his name known for good.

Not only has his play been compared to that of 1971's Ken Dryden or 1986 and 1993's Patrick Roy, but he has been in "the zone" for the majority of the playoffs.

His occasional breakdowns may have some cause for concern, such as in Game Four against Washington or Game One against Pittsburgh, but he rebounded beautifully.

The turning point and possibly the nail in the Capitals' coffin in their series came in Game Six when Halak robbed Joe Corvo with a beautiful glove save.

The save was reminiscent of Patrick Roy in 1986. Though Roy won a Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup, Halak would be in the same company if the Canadiens could go so far.

His play these playoffs compares to that of Miikka Kiprusoff in the 2004 playoffs where Kiprusoff rebounded beautifully after being shell-shocked in a game.

Though the 2010 Canadiens and the 2004 Flames don't really stack up as well as they could, Halak's play has been one of the single factors that have helped the team get this far.