Ovechkin scores as the Capitals
eliminate the Canadiens in 5, advance to play the Hurricanes
[May 01, 2025]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time in seven years, the Washington
Capitals were on the smiling end of a playoff handshake line. And
they got to enjoy it at home for the first time in a decade.
Alex Ovechkin scored on a laser of a shot off a faceoff, Logan
Thompson made some spectacular saves among his 28 and the Capitals
beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in Game 5 of their first-round
series Wednesday night to advance in the NHL playoffs.
It’s the Capitals’ first series win since capturing the Stanley Cup
in 2018, and they clinched at home for the first time since 2015.
They face the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round with a spot in
the Eastern Conference final at stake.
“We won a series and we’re going to enjoy it tonight and tomorrow
it’s a new day and it’s going to be a new series,” Ovechkin said.
"We have to be smart and we have to move on and game by game.”
Ovechkin led the way with his power-play goal 11 minutes in, setting
off chants of “Ovi! Ovi!” from the juiced up crowd. Pierre-Luc
Dubois delivered a perfect pass to Jakob Chychrun, who beat Jakub
Dobes just over two minutes later. Tom Wilson provided a valuable
insurance goal on the power play late in the second period.
Fans expressed their appreciation for Thompson with chants of “LT!
LT!” when he turned aside Kaiden Guhle on a three-on-one rush and
with under two minutes left when he flashed his glove to rob Nick
Suzuki with Dobes pulled for an extra attacker. Brandon Duhaime
sealed it with an empty-netter with 25.6 seconds left.
[to top of second column] |
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), right, celebrates
his goal with defenseman John Carlson, left, in the first period of
Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the
Montreal Canadiens, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP
Photo/Nick Wass)
Much like the final minutes of Game 2, Thompson was at his best at
the start when the Canadiens came out with the desperation expected
from a team facing elimination and then in the third when they
pressed and tilted the ice toward him.
“He’s a rock," center Dylan Strome said. "He was great. I thought he
did what he did all year. He kept us in it, made the big saves when
we needed it.”
The Capitals asserted their dominance in the East’s 1 versus 8
series, a year after getting swept as the underdog in it by the New
York Rangers. Banged up and without top goalie Sam Montembeault and
scoring winger Patrik Laine, the Canadiens got a goal from Emil
Heineman but ultimately ran out of steam after going on a tear down
the stretch in the regular season to be the last team to qualify for
the playoffs.
“We had a good push in the third, and I think when teams gave us a
little bit of space, we were very dangerous,” coach Martin St. Louis
said. “If we introduced ourself 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 head held high.”
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