It's been a season to forget for Patrik Laine, but don't count out the Montreal Canadiens' star forward just yet—especially with playoff hockey heating up.

The Canadiens are staring down a must-win Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning this Sunday, and while there's been no official word on Laine returning, the possibility is tantalizing. After all, if Montreal had Laine's firepower available earlier in the series, they might have already punched their ticket to the next round.

Laine has been sidelined for all but five games this season due to a nagging abdominal injury. The lack of a clear recovery timeline has left fans guessing, but here's the twist: according to Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin, if Montreal wanted to activate Laine from long-term injured reserve, they could still stay under the playoff salary cap. That's a game-changer for a team looking for a spark.

Montreal's power play has noticeably missed Laine's elite touch. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, even a "lesser version" of Laine leads all NHL players in power-play goals and shots per 60 minutes. That kind of production could be the difference-maker in a tight series.

Could Laine pull off a Willis Reed-style heroics—a dramatic return that rallies the team? It's a long shot, but in the world of sports, stranger things have happened. For now, Canadiens fans can dream, even if a comeback feels like a surprise at this point.

One thing's for sure: if Laine is healthy enough to lace up, Montreal has the cap flexibility to make it happen. The question is whether the timing will align for a storybook return.