Capitals outperform Canadiens, securing victory in five games; next they face the Hurricanes.
In a historical turn of events, the Washington Capitals emerged triumphant in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, clinching their first playoff series victory since 2018. The victory marked a decade since the team last advanced at home, and it set the stage for a second-round showdown against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Alex Ovechkin capitalized on a powerful shot off a faceoff to open the scoring, initiating celebrations among the implies home crowd. Goaltender Logan Thompson was instrumental in the win, making several spectacular saves, including a crucial stop on a three-on-one rush and a dazzling glove save to thwart a late attack by the Canadiens. The final nail in the coffin was provided by Brandon Duhaime's empty-netter with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Ovechkin was the standout player, scoring the power-play goal early in the game and contributing to the team's overall dominance. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jakob Chychrun also made significant contributions, with Dubois delivering a perfect pass for Chychrun's goal. Tom Wilson added an important power-play insurance goal late in the second period.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Capitals, who had been summarily dismissed as underdogs in the 1 versus 8 matchup by the New York Rangers the previous year. This time around, despite missing top goalie Sam Montembeault and scoring winger Patrik Laine, the Canadiens put up a valiant effort but ultimately ran out of steam after a promising regular season.
Coach Martin St. Louis commended his team's performance, stating, "If we introduced ourselves to the rest of the league in this playoffs, especially being the youngest team and stuff, I think we can walk out of here with our heads held high."
In the second round, the Capitals will face the Hurricanes, a familiar foe from previous playoff encounters. Historically, the Hurricanes have held the upper hand, eliminating the Capitals in the 2019 playoffs. In the 2025 playoffs, the Hurricanes prevailed in the second round, ending the Capitals' playoff run in five games.
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Media coverage is expected to focus on the Washington Capitals' historic victory against the Montreal Canadiens, marking their first playoff series win since 2018. In the second round, the Capitals will face the Carolina Hurricanes, who have traditionally been a tough opponent, having defeated the Capitals in both the 2019 and 2025 playoffs. Tuning into NHL sports coverage will provide the latest updates on the NHL playoffs, available on our website's Stanley Cup and NHL hubs.
