Capitals Face Canadiens in Eastern Conference Playoff Showdown

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals are set to face the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Capital One Arena on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. Goalie Logan Thompson, who has been nursing an upper-body injury, appears ready to return, marking a critical moment for the Capitals as they kick off the playoffs.

Thompson has not played since April 2, when he sustained his injury after a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He was the first goalkeeper off the ice during the Capitals’ morning skate, often a strong indicator of who will start. He participated fully in practice throughout the weekend.

Despite Thompson’s readiness, Head Coach Spencer Carbery has kept his starting decision under wraps, stating the media will have to wait for the warmups to find out. “You’ll find out then,” said Carbery.

This season, Thompson has achieved a milestone with 30 wins, boasting a record of 31-6-6, a goals-against average of 2.49, and a save percentage of .910 over 43 games. With playoff experience from last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, Thompson’s performance will be crucial for the Capitals as they seek their first playoff series win since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018.

Thompson’s return comes as the Capitals prepare to face a young Canadiens team that secured the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, closing their regular season with a record of 40-31-11. The Canadiens will make their first playoff appearance since 2021.

Montreal rookie goalie Sam Montembeault, who is also set to begin his playoff journey, is riding high after achieving over 30 wins this season and looks forward to his first postseason games with the Canadiens. “After eight years, it’s about time I get to play some playoff hockey,” Montembeault said, expressing excitement about the playoffs.

As the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, the Capitals have experienced disappointing playoffs in recent years, failing to advance past the first round. In contrast, the Canadiens hope to leverage their youth and recent performance, going 7-1-2 in their final 10 games leading into the playoffs.

Washington heads into the first game looking to overpower Montreal’s defense, aiming to exploit any weaknesses with their strong offensive play. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, the team’s all-time leader in playoff statistics, is eager to help lead his team as they seek victory at home. After being held scoreless in last year’s playoffs, Ovechkin is determined to make a significant impact.

Game 1 is the first time the Capitals and Canadiens meet in the playoffs since 2010, when the Canadiens shocked the Capitals by coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. The anticipation builds as both teams prepare for a high-stakes competition echoing the promise of playoff hockey.

“We believe in our group that we can create a surprise here and beat them,” said a Canadiens defenseman, emphasizing their team’s readiness and determination.

The match is expected to showcase thrilling hockey, with both teams aiming to set the tone early in the series.