Canadiens make major adjustments to their lineup ahead of Game 4.

The Montreal Canadiens will play for their playoff lives tonight when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. In spite of outplaying the Lightning at times in this series the Canadiens find themselves down huge with a 0 - 3 deficit in this series and will now need to win 4 consecutive games if they wish to capture their first Stanley Cup title in nearly 30 years.

After a third consecutive loss in Game 3 you knew there would be changes made to the lineup coming into Game 4, but I don't believe that anyone would have anticipated the number of changes made today by Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme, nor the players changed for that matter. In total Ducharme has announced 3 changes to the lineup with 6 players being moved around in total, 3 that will come off the sidelines for the Canadiens and 3 players who will be hitting the sidelines for Game 4.

The first and arguably the biggest change in this one is a bit of a surprise with Ducharme making the decision to take Jesperi Kotkaniemi out of the lineup in an elimination game. The decision has been met with widespread criticism on social media and it is somewhat understandable given that Kotkaniemi has been one of Montreal's most productive players throughout these Stanley Cup Playoffs. That being said Ducharme is sticking to his guns and it will be forward Jake Evans stepping into the lineup to take his spot tonight.

The other two changes have been made on the blue line and this one I would argue has been a much anticipated change. Stepping in tonight for the Canadiens will be both rookie defenseman Alexander Romanov and veteran defenseman Brett Kulak, this after Romanov has been left on the sidelines for much of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Many fans have been calling on the Canadiens coaching staff to give Romanov more playing time in the playoffs and he will now get his shot in arguably the most important game of the season for the Canadiens. Stepping out of the lineup and onto the sidelines tonight will be Jon Merrill and Erik Gustafsson, both of whom have been taken out to make room for Kulak and Romanov.

Do you agree with the moves? Does Montreal stand a chance in Game 4? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.