Washington Capitals vs Montréal Canadiens Picks and Predictions April 21st 2025

Ovechkin, Capitals Open Stanley Cup Quest Against Surging Canadiens

After a regular season filled with milestones and momentum, the Washington Capitals are ready to drop the puck on what they hope will be a deep playoff run — beginning with Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night. With Alex Ovechkin now the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer and the Capitals entering the playoffs as the East’s top seed, expectations are sky-high.

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Top-Seeded Capitals Look to Shake Off Slow Finish

Washington (51-21-9, 111 points) earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and topped the Metropolitan Division, but they didn’t exactly cruise into the playoffs. The Capitals dropped eight of their final 12 games (4-7-1), a stretch that included resting key veterans and rotating lineups.

“We’ve been playing decent hockey, kind of like .500 hockey the last little while, so it’s time to ratchet it up,” said forward Dylan Strome. “We want to find that midseason form.”

Alex Ovechkin will be the focal point as always. Coming off a historic season in which he passed Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record, the 38-year-old captain now turns his attention to the one thing that has eluded Washington since their 2018 title — another Stanley Cup.

Goaltending remains a slight mystery entering Game 1. Coach Spencer Carbery has yet to confirm whether Logan Thompson — who’s recovered from an upper-body injury — or Charlie Lindgren will get the nod.

• Logan Thompson: 31-6-6 | 2.49 GAA | .910 SV%
• Charlie Lindgren: 20-14-3 | 2.73 GAA | .894 SV%

Canadiens Riding High After 2% Playoff Odds

Montreal (42-31-7, 91 points) punched their postseason ticket in dramatic fashion, closing the regular season on a 7-1-2 tear. At the All-Star break, they had just a 2% chance of qualifying. Now, they’re playing with house money and a whole lot of momentum.

“Coming off the break, we had a 2 percent chance of making the playoffs… for me, you still have a chance,” coach Martin St. Louis said.

The Canadiens are led offensively by a potent top line of Cole Caufield (37 goals) and Nick Suzuki (30 goals, 89 points), who will be key in matching Washington’s firepower.

Goaltender Sam Montembeault will likely start Game 1. He posted solid numbers this season and helped stabilize Montreal’s back end down the stretch.

• Montembeault: 31-24-7 | 2.82 GAA | .901 SV%

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What to Watch in Game 1

• Ovechkin’s Impact: Fresh off a legendary record, how quickly can the captain flip the playoff switch?
• Montreal’s Belief: The Canadiens are playing with energy and belief — and that makes them dangerous.
• Goaltending Decisions: Washington’s Game 1 starter remains a mystery; Thompson’s health and Lindgren’s playoff struggles loom large.

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“Spend time with the family… it’s a good thing,” Ovechkin said after skating with his sons pre-playoffs. “But the intensity comes quick.”

Historical Note: Revenge on the Table?

These two franchises have met in the playoffs just once before — in 2010 — when eighth-seeded Montreal stunned top-seeded Washington in a seven-game series. The Capitals will be looking to avoid a similar fate.