Martin St. Louis is placing stress on Washington.
The capital flirted first place all season within the NHL whereas the Montreal Canadiens ran round in the direction of the playoffs.
So who ought to really feel the warmth when the 2 groups meet within the first spherical of the NHL playoff collection on Monday night time within the US capital?
“I really feel it is the most effective crew within the league,” the Canadiens head coach mentioned for the third time about his opponent. “You do math.”
Main Wayne Gretzky’s finest goalscoring document of all time on April sixth, Washington has made Washington’s 111 factors this season.
In the meantime, Montreal tightened the ultimate wildcard by 91 factors (a quantity that was not certified within the West) and minus 20 objectives.
However taking part in a loser is nothing new to the Canadians. They’re already in opposition to the percentages simply to succeed in the postseason.
Montreal, a rebuilding crew, missed the playoffs for the third consecutive yr of their shock run this season.
“A really assured group”
Hockey late in April was discovering issues when the Canadians ranked thirty first on December 1st, and as soon as once more when the St. Louis crew bought sputtered earlier than the February 4 Nations match was destroyed.
Captain Knicks Suzuki and Rookie Sensation Lane Hutson performed a key position within the full crew effort to boost the rankings, with Montreal coming collectively 15-5-6 within the ultimate quarter of the season.
“They’re one species and we’re simply sneaking in, however I do not suppose we predict we’re like eight species,” Suzuki mentioned. “We have performed actually good hockey. We’re a extremely assured group.”
The Canadian, with a mean age of 25.8, is the youngest crew to play the playoffs. Nevertheless, Suzuki believes they’ve gained a whole lot of expertise within the stress packed recreation.
“We have been taking part in playoff hockey,” he mentioned. “We have now been combating for our lives to succeed in this place over the previous few weeks.
“We stay up for this problem, so I believe we are able to meet that.”
See a lot of l playoff buzz in Montreal:
After the dramatic and typically claw-biting ultimate few video games of the season, Montreal Canadiens followers get excited concerning the playoffs, becoming a member of Montreal’s Victor followers, permitting two skilled hockey groups within the metropolis to mark playoff {qualifications} for the primary time.
The postseason Bers marks the return of playoff hockey in one of many sport’s most passionate markets.
The Canadians are again within the playoffs for the primary time since reaching the 2021 pandemic-shortened Stanley Cup ultimate. Followers can have the chance to fill the Bell Heart in playoff video games for the primary time since 2017.
Earlier than the season, the capital was within the Canadiens footwear, and regardless of the focused unfavourable, it began squealing within the playoffs.
Now they’re prime seeds and are extremely keen on shifting ahead, however head coach Spencer Carberry reminded him that he surpassed his pre-season expectations all season.
“I am not very occupied with the potential of betting,” he mentioned. “Nobody had us on this place earlier than the season started. I can promise you this simply because we had an important common season and we’re sitting as the primary species within the east.
“It is not a part of our DNA.”
Whereas Montreal thrived after the 4 Nations was destroyed, Washington misplaced steam on a 15-11-1 document, together with eight losses within the final 12 common season video games. That ultimate stretch consists of Ovechkin’s document chase and the tip of a low guess. As a result of they secured the playoff berth.
Nevertheless, the capital can also be being hit just a little.
Logan Thompson has not performed since struggling an higher physique harm to the Carolina Hurricane on April 2nd, however Netminder practiced absolutely on Saturday and Sunday. Carbery mentioned he’ll identify the Recreation 1 starter on Monday.
In the meantime, ahead Aliacsei Protas broke out this season with 30 objectives and 36 assists in 76 video games after struggling a leg harm on April 4th.
When the 2 groups final met within the 2010 playoffs, eight-seeded Montreal confused the winner of the president’s trophy in seven video games.
The Canadians will attempt to repeat historical past in 15 years.
“We’re by no means going to go away that,” mentioned defensive man Kaiden Goule. “Folks have been doubting us all yr spherical. We’re right here. When the percentages pile up in opposition to us, it is like after we’re the most effective.
“We mentioned, ‘Why not us, why not now?’ for the playoffs.
Season Collection
The Canadiens misplaced two of three regular-season matches in opposition to the capital, together with an October 31 6-3 loss. Montreal gained 3-2 at Washington on January tenth.
final time
The Capitals had been the well-known “Halak” in 2010, when Canadian Netminder Jaroslav Harak stole the collection with a save charge of 0.939.
Chance of breakouts
Ivan Demidov: The 19-year-old Russian arrived in Montreal from Ska Saint Petersburg, KHL over every week in the past. The proficient winger, who was chosen because the fifth general within the 2024 draft, performed the Canadiens’ first two NHL video games on the finish of the common season, fascinating his debut objectives and assists. He could possibly be a wild card for Montreal.
Conor McMichael: With Protas potential, the capital will search for McMichael and assist Ovechkin and prime middle Dylan Strom with secondary scoring. 24-year-old McMichael has a career-high 26 objectives and 31 assists in 82 video games this season.
