The Washington Capitals have triumphed over the Montreal Canadiens, securing a 4-1 victory and clinching the series in five games. With this win, the Capitals are heading into the second round, where they will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in what promises to be an exhilarating series.
The Caps’ domination in this series has left fans buzzing with excitement, but before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s break down the pivotal moments that led to this impressive victory.
Ovechkin Shines with Early Power-Play Goal
From the opening faceoff, the Capitals made their intentions clear. Alex Ovechkin, as reliable as ever, delivered a clinical power-play goal that put Washington ahead 1-0 early in the first period. Dylan Strome’s clean faceoff win set up Ovechkin perfectly, and the captain’s shot was as pristine as it gets—beating Canadiens goalie Dobes with minimal effort. “Clean is how everyone described it,” said one fan, adding that the goal was a thing of beauty. In fact, many jokingly predicted that the British might just try to steal it for their own collection.
At 39 years old, Ovechkin continues to defy age, now tied for the second-most postseason goals by a player of his age. The only player ahead of him is the legendary Jean Beliveau, who scored six goals in 20 games—a tally Ovi is on track to surpass if he keeps up this pace.
A Highlight-Reel Play by Pierre-Luc Dubois
While Ovechkin’s goal was the talk of the night, another moment of brilliance came from Pierre-Luc Dubois, whose pinpoint pass to Jakub Chychrun resulted in an awe-inspiring goal to make it 2-0. Dubois, who had earlier been penalized for a neutral-zone interference on Ivan Demidov, made amends with a pass that left Canadiens defenders in the dust. As Dubois moved up behind the goal line, he skillfully drew attention from multiple Montreal players, including top-liner Cole Caufield, leaving Chychrun with all the space he needed to score. “Beautiful. All is forgiven,” said one observer, and indeed, that pass was one of the sickest of the entire series.
Caps Dominating Early, Canadiens’ Late Surge
The Capitals’ success in this series stemmed from their early dominance in five-on-five play, especially in the first two periods. However, as the series went on, Washington seemed to cede control to Montreal in some of the later stages. This trend continued in Game 5, as the Canadiens fought hard in the third period, trying to claw their way back into the game.
Despite this, it was clear that the Caps had established enough of a lead that Montreal’s efforts fell short. Tom Wilson’s net-front battle during a power-play added to the margin, making it 3-0 going into the final frame. The third period saw the Canadiens finally get on the board with a freak bounce that got past Logan Thompson, credited to Emil Heineman. However, with the score at 3-1, the Caps sealed their win with an empty-net goal from Brandon Duhaime, bringing the final tally to 4-1.
Protas Returns, Raddysh Gets Scratched
Aliaksei Protas made his much-anticipated return to the lineup after recovering from a skate-blade injury that had kept him sidelined since April 4. Though Protas was slotted on the fourth line, he didn’t shy away from playing a significant role, logging substantial minutes against Montreal’s top players. “It didn’t mean he was being eased back into action,” noted a source close to the team. Protas was crucial in helping Washington win an important defensive-zone faceoff, showcasing his resilience after the injury.
On the flip side, Taylor Raddysh was a healthy scratch for this game, and it wasn’t without reason. Raddysh had recently testified remotely as a witness in the Team Canada sexual assault trial, a matter that, while unrelated to his scratch, added a somber tone to the evening. “The two things aren’t connected, but it would feel wrong not to mention something that important happening,” said one commentator.
A Historic Series Win for the Capitals
With this victory, the Washington Capitals have not only eliminated the Canadiens but have also achieved a significant milestone by clinching a series win on home ice for the first time since 2015. This marks a long-awaited moment for fans who still remember that dramatic overtime game against the Islanders, where Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the series-winning goal.
As the Capitals bask in their hard-fought victory, the attention now turns to their second-round matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. While this will undoubtedly be a thrilling series, there is a sense of cautious optimism surrounding the Capitals’ chances. If they can continue their strong five-on-five play and get consistent performances from their stars, they will be a tough team to beat. However, the Hurricanes’ puck-possession game is a formidable challenge, and they will pose a much different threat than the Canadiens.
As one Capitals fan put it, “If I just think about five-on-five play in the first two periods of four of the five games, they look like Cup Contenders. And they’re going to do great against Carolina.” Though there may be some nerves about what’s to come, there’s no denying the excitement surrounding this upcoming series.
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