WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored the first playoff overtime goal of his NHL career to give the Washington Capitals a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Monday night. Fresh off breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for the most goals in league history just 15 days earlier, Ovechkin's second goal of the game came 3:26 into overtime, allowing the Eastern Conference top-seeded Capitals to escape after blowing a two-goal third-period lead.
“A goal is a goal,” said Ovechkin, who had gone his first 44 playoff overtime games without scoring the winner. “It doesn’t matter. (And) in the playoffs, especially, it doesn’t matter who scores. I think it gives you confidence.”
The Capitals spent much of the night bullying the smaller, less experienced Canadiens with one big hit after another, showcasing their physicality. The team registered a staggering 42 hits, with 14 of 18 skaters contributing at least one. Ovechkin led the way with seven hits, emphasizing the team’s commitment to the physical game.
“Everybody was hitting,” Ovechkin noted. “All our guys get involved in the physical game.”
Ovechkin opened the scoring on the power play late in the first period, and he set up Anthony Beauvillier's goal in the second, putting the Capitals in a strong position. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the third period. A penalty on Pierre-Luc Dubois opened the door for Cole Caufield to ignite Montreal's comeback bid with 9:28 left in regulation.
Despite their efforts to hold on, a defensive-zone mishap allowed Nick Suzuki to tie the game with just 4:15 remaining. Suzuki found the back of the net after goaltender Logan Thompson slid out of the crease, inadvertently knocked off balance by teammate Connor McMichael.
“Obviously sat back a bit too much in the third,” said Dylan Strome, who had two assists in the game. “But a win’s a win, take it and move on.”
Thompson, making his first NHL appearance since an injury on April 2, finished with 33 saves. “LT was great,” Strome praised. “That save I remember in the first period on Suzuki on the 2-on-1... It was a huge save at the time to kind of keep our momentum going and I love his game.”
At the other end of the ice, Sam Montembeault was arguably the Canadiens' standout player, stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced in his Stanley Cup playoff debut. “In terms of what we tried to do out there tonight, I felt it was a pretty good first game,” said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. “There was a lot of good stuff. Unfortunately, you don’t win, but we got some really good stuff from this game.”
Ovechkin's overtime goal not only secured a crucial victory for Washington but also marked the franchise's first playoff win since May 7, 2022. With Game 2 set for Wednesday night in Washington, the Capitals will look to build on this momentum before the series shifts to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday.
In other NHL playoff action on Monday, the Winnipeg Jets secured a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues, thanks to Mark Scheifele's goal and assist and Kyle Connor's game-winner in the third period. Connor Hellebuyck was solid in goal, stopping 21 shots to help the Jets take a 2-0 series lead.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings triumphed over the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling 6-5 victory, with Phillip Danault scoring the decisive goal with just 41 seconds remaining. The Kings had built a 5-1 lead before the Oilers made a furious comeback, tying the game late in the third period. But Danault's late goal secured the win for Los Angeles.
In Dallas, the Stars edged the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime, with Colin Blackwell scoring the game-winner 17:46 into the extra period. The Stars were able to bounce back from their eighth consecutive Game 1 loss, avoiding falling behind in the series for the second year in a row.
As the playoffs continue, the Capitals will aim to capitalize on their victory and maintain their physical edge against the Canadiens. The intensity is palpable, and with the series still in its early stages, every game will be crucial as teams vie for a chance at the Stanley Cup.
