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)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck past Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) in the first period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) look for the puck in the second period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates his goal in the second 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)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) skates with the puck against Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) in the second period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up before Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Ovechkin scores as the Capitals eliminate the Canadiens in 5, advance to play the Hurricanes
WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 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.
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)
WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 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 Wednesday night to advance in the NHL playoffs.
It鈥檚 the Capitals鈥 first series win since capturing the Stanley Cup in 2018, and they clinched at home for the first time since 2015. They in the second round with a spot in the final at stake.
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鈥淲e won a series and we鈥檙e going to enjoy it tonight and tomorrow it鈥檚 a new day and it鈥檚 going to be a new series,鈥 Ovechkin said. “We have to be smart and we have to move on and game by game.鈥
with his power-play goal 11 minutes in, setting off chants of 鈥淥vi! Ovi!鈥 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 鈥淟T! LT!鈥 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.
, 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.
鈥淗e鈥檚 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.鈥
The Capitals asserted their dominance in the East鈥檚 1 versus 8 series, a year after as the underdog in it by the New York Rangers. Banged up and 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.
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鈥淲e had a good push in the third, and I think when teams gave us a little bit of space, we were very dangerous,鈥 coach Martin St. Louis said. 鈥淚f 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.鈥
Up next
Carolina and Washington meet in the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
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