The Washington Capitals have officially eliminated the Montreal Canadiens from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a decisive 4-1 victory in Game 5, held on April 30, 2025, at the Capital One Center. The Capitals, who led the series 3-1 going into this game, will now face the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the playoffs.
In a match that showcased the Capitals' dominance, goals were scored by Tom Wilson, Brandon Duhaime, Jakob Chychrun, and team captain Alex Ovechkin, who continues to add to his impressive playoff legacy. Ovechkin’s performance has been particularly noteworthy; he now has four goals in this playoff series, tying him for fifth among all skaters in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In addition, with his goal in Game 5, Ovechkin tied Mario Lemieux for the 12th-most playoff goals in NHL history, now boasting a total of 76.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery expressed the importance of the game leading up to the match, stating, "I think that the start of the game is going to be important from an overall standpoint of what you expect from the Montreal Canadiens. They’re going to be very comfortable in this environment and facing elimination. You can tell they’ve been through it... We expect their best punch today, and we’re going to need to be ready and we’re going to have [be] our best tonight." His words resonated with the team, as they came out strong and took control early in the game.
With the Capitals taking a 1-0 lead thanks to Ovechkin's power-play goal at 10:48 in the first period, the momentum was firmly in Washington's favor. The team continued to build on this advantage, demonstrating a well-rounded offensive attack that kept the Canadiens' defense on their heels.
On the other side, the Canadiens faced significant challenges. Goaltender Sam Montembeault did not make the trip to D.C. due to a lower-body injury sustained in Game 3, forcing rookie Jakub Dobeš to step in for the second consecutive game. The Canadiens had also been missing key players, including winger Patrik Laine, who has been sidelined since Game 3 due to an upper-body injury. These absences undoubtedly hampered Montreal's performance as they attempted to stave off elimination.
Despite the loss, the Canadiens' journey to the playoffs was commendable. This marked their first playoff appearance since 2021, a significant turnaround for a franchise that faced a rough three-year stretch near the bottom of the NHL standings. Captain Nick Suzuki led the team with 89 points during the regular season, the highest total by a Canadien since the 1995-96 season. The team managed to clinch the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in their final regular-season game, highlighting their resilience and ability to overcome adversity.
However, the wear and tear of a grueling season and the physicality of the Capitals proved too much for the young Canadiens. The Capitals had won the first two games at home before Montreal captured Game 3, which was particularly special as it was the first sold-out playoff game at the Bell Centre since 2017. Washington then took Game 4 on the road, setting the stage for this decisive Game 5.
As the Capitals prepare for their next challenge against the Hurricanes, they will look to build on their strong playoff performance thus far. The Hurricanes, who also advanced by defeating the New Jersey Devils in five games, will present a formidable challenge. In the regular season, the Capitals and Hurricanes faced off four times, with Carolina holding a 2-1-1 series lead. Their previous postseason meeting was in 2019, where the Hurricanes triumphed in a hard-fought seven-game series.
The Capitals' success this season can be attributed to significant roster changes made during the offseason, including the acquisitions of Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators and Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights. These moves have paid off, as Thompson posted an impressive .923 save percentage in the series against Montreal, solidifying his role as a key player in the Capitals' playoff run.
With their victory over the Canadiens, the Capitals are now ready to embark on their next playoff journey. This marks the 11th time in the past 12 years that Washington has reached the postseason, a stretch highlighted by their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in 2018. After being swept by the New York Rangers in the first round last spring, the Capitals are eager to make a deeper playoff run this time around.
As the Capitals gear up for their matchup against the Hurricanes, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Washington can capitalize on their momentum and continue their quest for another championship.
