Washington Capitals Close Out Series Against Montreal Canadiens with 4-1 Win
The Washington Capitals advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a convincing 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5, as reported by The Athletic. The Capitals, led by coach Spencer Carbery, overcame a slow start to dominate the Canadiens, outshooting them 28-15 in the process.
Carbery, who has never closed out a series in the playoffs before, acknowledged the difficulty of winning a playoff series. "It’s extremely difficult," he said, as quoted in The Athletic. "We know the obstacle in front of us and the challenges in front of us, and it’s on us to come out and play our best game of the series tonight on home ice."
The Capitals got off to a slow start, being outshot 8-1 in the first period. However, it was The Athletic that reported that Alex Ovechkin scored the first goal of the game, capitalizing on a faceoff win by Dylan Strome and scoring immediately on a power play. The goal was Ovechkin’s fourth of the series and third at Capital One Arena.
Goaltender Logan Thompson was impressive for the Capitals, making 28 saves to secure the win. According to The Athletic, Thompson was better in this game compared to his previous outing, where he was cleared to play despite being injured in Game 3.
The Canadiens, on the other hand, failed to extend their season, which had brought significant individual and collective progress. Coach Martin St. Louis had emphasized the need for his team to grab momentum in Game 5, but it was the Capitals who took control of the game. As The Athletic noted, the Canadiens were buzzing in the first seven minutes, dominating possession and creating scoring chances. However, the game turned when Juraj Slafkovský was called for slashing, and Ovechkin scored on the ensuing power play.
Jakub Dobeš, who started in place of injured goalie Sam Montembeault, was solid for the Canadiens, making several impressive saves to keep the game close. However, as reported by The Athletic, the Canadiens’ offense failed to capitalize on their chances, and they were ultimately outplayed by the Capitals.
The Canadiens’ season was considered a success, given their young team’s performance. However, it was a sour end to the season, as they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. According to The Athletic, the Canadiens were one play, one shot, or one decision away from winning Games 1, 2, and 4 of the series.
The Capitals will now face the Carolina Hurricanes, the second seed in the Eastern Conference, in the second round of the playoffs. The series promises to be an exciting one, with both teams evenly matched. As reported by The Athletic, the Capitals will look to build on their momentum from this series, while the Hurricanes will aim to use their experience to their advantage.
