After an incredible 2024-25 regular season, the playoffs are finally here. And the vibes are… mixed.
In search of the franchise’s second Stanley Cup championship, the Capitals will begin their journey with a seven-game, best-of-seven series against the Montreal Canadiens. Here’s your series preview.
The Capitals will start the series without 30-goal scorer, Aliaksei Protas, and defenseman, Martin Fehervary, who are both out due to injury. However, the Capitals will see a return from starting goaltender Logan Thompson, who will take the net after recovering from an upper-body injury first suffered on April 2.
Montreal comes into the playoffs like the 2007-08 Capitals once did: with an insanely talented youth core who is still learning how to win. This series should be fun, nerve-racking, and great hockey.
Puck drop for Game 1 is at 7:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe B and Locker have the call. Let’s go Caps!
Lines
Washington Capitals
Montreal Canadiens
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Bob McDonald and Caleb Green beautifully sing the US and Canadian national anthems before the game. Goosebumps.
Puck is dropped. Capitals start Ovechkin,Strome,Beauvillier and Sandin-Roy vs. Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher and Matheson-Carrier. It’s a clean-shaven Logan Thompson vs. Sam Montembeault in net.
Beauvillier and Ovechkin with huge hits on the first shift.
Semi-breakaway for Connor McMichael who nearly scores on Montembeault driving the center lane.
McMichael with another point-blank chance the next rush down the ice.
Lars Eller with a shot from the bottom of the left circle. Caps have three quality chances early.
Alex Alexeyev cross-checked Brendan Gallagher directly in the face. No call! Wow.
Alex Alexeyev gets away with cross-check to face of Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher
Tom Wilson with a big hit on Kaiden Guhle. This game is quickly getting salty. Caps have 7 hits in the first 3:28 of the game.
Taylor Raddysh takes the game’s first penalty, a slash, at 10:26.
Montreal power play.
Laine stopped on a short side, low one-timer by Thompson.
Capitals kill penalty. Montreal 0 for 1 on the PP.
Ovechkin, from no angle, nearly scores as Montembault slides out of position.
Brandon Duhaime, wide open in front of the net, is stopped by Montembault on a backhand shot.
Guhle, Newhook and Mangiapane to the box after a scrum by the Habs net at 16:58.
Capitals power play.
Carlson gets tripped at the blue line, that is somehow not a penalty. Fans booing loudly.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Alex Ovechkin (1). Assists: T. Wilson (1), D. Strome (1). Time: 18:34.
Ovi snaps a shot from the top of the left circle blocker-side past Montembault.
Capitals 1/1 on the PP. Montreal 0 for 1 on the PK.
Nick Suzuki stopped by Logan Thompson on a two-on-one.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 1-0. Caps lead in shots 15 to 13 and in five-on-five shot attempts 23 to 13.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Much slower period than the first.
🚨 2-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Alex Ovechkin (1). Assists: A. Ovechkin (1), D. Strome (2). Time: 12:09.
Ovechkin puts a shot on net from the bench. Beauvillier deflects it, then pots the rebound.
Montreal putting major heat on the Capitals as the period drawing to a close.
Alex Ovechkin hammers Cole Caufield into the boards. Huge hit.
Patrik Laine to the box at 16:18 for high-sticking Nic Dowd.
Capitals power play.
Josh Anderson nearly sprung on a breakaway but can’t get a shot off.
Capitals 1/2 on the PP. Montreal 1 for 2 on the PK.
At intermission: Capitals lead 2-0. They lead in shots 23 to 21 and 35 to 32 in five-on-five shot attempts.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
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