The last Canadian team left in the playoffs continues to turn heads as the Ottawa Senators scratch and claw their way closer and closer to the Stanley Cup Final.
Meanwhile, the defending Pittsburgh Penguins are fighting through a multitude of injuries to try to claim the promised prize in consecutive years.
Only one can go on, and with the series tied at two games each, Sunday’s game will bring us closer to knowing which of the two will prevail.
Here’s what to watch for in the pivotal Game 5.
vs. 
Game 5: 3:00 p.m. ET on CBC
Malkin on the cusp of another milestone
With six goals and 14 assists, Evgeni Malkin is sitting at the top of the scoring leaderboard through 14 games in the playoffs.
The 30-year-old has arguably been the Penguins most consistent player, but he has failed to find the scoresheet in back-to-back games. Given his 1.25 points-per-game average that trend is likely going to end soon, and when it does Malkin will reach yet another milestone in his illustrious career.
He is currently sitting at 149 career playoff points. One more and he becomes just the 29th player to ever reach the mark. The all-time playoff-points leader is, you guessed it, Wayne Gretzky with 382.
The list of active players with more playoff points than Malkin is very short. Jaromir Jagr with 201 (5th all-time) and his teammate Sidney Crosby with 154 (26th all-time). Also with 149 is Marian Hossa, but, thanks to the Nashville Predators, he won’t be reaching the 150 point mark anytime soon.
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Happy birthday, Craig
Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson is set for a big day.
He has the opportunity to put the Penguins on the ropes in their Eastern Conference Final series — or get put on the ropes for that matter — and he turns 36. Happy birthday, Craig.
On a hockey-related note (that is why you came here, right?) a win on Sunday moves Anderson closer to Senators lore. He currently sits in second among franchise playoff wins with 20, behind only Patrick Lalime (21).
If Anderson manages to pick up win No. 21 in Game 5, he will have reached the mark in three fewer games than Lalime. Through 41 career playoff games (all with the Senators) Lalime has an incredible 1.77 goals-against average paired with a .921 save percentage. Anderson, on the other hand, has a 2.26 goals-against average and .928 save percentage through 37 games with the Senators.
Murray’s job now?
The debate between goaltenders Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury has been a most interesting one. Each have led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup and each have performed extremely well this postseason.
It’s been well documented this year that Murray is their guy going forward, but when he went down prior to Game 1 of the playoffs, Fleury came in and shut the door, igniting the fire back into the conversation.
After a mediocre Game 3 where the Penguins defensive play left Fleury out to dry, head coach Mike Sullivan seized the opportunity to reinstate his future No. 1.
Murray got the start in Game 4, allowing only two goals — both deflections — on 20 shots en route to the series-tying victory. Did that win extinguish the Fleury flame in Pittsburgh, or is there still hope?
Each start that Murray gets and every game he plays well, Fleury’s chances of getting back in the crease drop drastically.If Murray gets the start on Sunday, and if he plays well again Fleury could be spending the remainder of the playoffs (/his Penguins career) on the bench.
