BROSSARD, Que. (Updated: 1:40pm et)  - Looking to take a 3-2 edge in a pivotal Game 5 at the Bell Centre, the Canadiens will have one of their biggest minute-eaters back on the blue line on Thursday night.

Defenceman Alexei Emelin is expected to return to the Habs’ lineup for Game 5 after missing the first four games of this first round series against the Rangers. Emelin has been out of action since April 5 when he suffered a lower-body injury against the Sabres.

“I feel good and ready, 100 per cent,” Emelin said. “Just (a) game-time decision.”

He participated in Montreal’s morning skate at Complexe Sportif Bell on the third pair to the right of Nathan Beaulieu. It was his first full team practice since he resumed skating on April 15. Emelin’s regular partner this season was Jeff Petry, but Jordie Benn has been paired with Petry throughout the postseason.

Brandon Davidson will draw out for Game 5, joining Nikita Nesterov as the Canadiens’ extra defencemen. 

Emelin, 30, averaged a career-high 21:19 this season, collecting two goals and eight assists for 10 points. He was fourth in per-game average ice time behind Shea Weber, Petry and Andrei Markov.

The 6-foot-2 blueliner adds muscle to an already physical series: the Rangers and Canadiens have combined for 367 hits in the first four games, an average of 92 per game. The same two teams averaged a total of 43 hits per game in the regular season. Emelin led Montreal in hits (241) by a wide margin this season.

“He’s an exciting player to have back,” captain Max Pacioretty said. “He means a lot to this team because he’s very, very hard to play against. I know what it’s like to play against guys like him. He can get in your mind when you have the puck.”

EXPECTED GAME 5 LINEUP:

Max Pacioretty - Philip Danault - Alexander Radulov

Paul Byron - Tomas Plekanec - Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen - Alex Galchenyuk - Andrew Shaw

Dwight King - Steve Ott - Torrey Mitchell

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Andrei Markov - Shea Weber

Jordie Benn - Jeff Petry

Nathan Beaulieu - Alexei Emelin

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Carey Price (starting)

Al Montoya 

Scratched: Brian Flynn, Michael McCarron, Andreas Martinsen, Brandon Davidson, Nikita Nesterov (all healthy).

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Contact Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @frank_seravalli