The Montreal Canadiens have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs after losing 4-1 to the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of their first-round series on Wednesday night, April 30, 2025. This defeat means the Canadiens lost the best-of-seven matchup in just five games, marking a disappointing end to their playoff run.
In a pivotal game at Capital One Arena in Washington, Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring with a powerful shot from a faceoff, and Logan Thompson delivered an impressive performance with 28 saves to secure the victory for the Capitals. With this win, the Capitals celebrated their first series victory since they clinched the Stanley Cup in 2018, advancing to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round of the playoffs.
Ovechkin's power-play goal came at 11 minutes into the game, igniting chants of "Ovi! Ovi!" from the enthusiastic home crowd. The Capitals doubled their lead when Pierre-Luc Dubois assisted Jakob Chychrun for a goal just over two minutes later. Tom Wilson added an important insurance goal in the second period to further distance himself from the Canadiens. The Capitals pressed their advantage effectively, showcasing their dominance in the series that matched the first seed against the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Thompson's skills were highlighted as he received chants of "LT! LT!" from the crowd whenever he made spectacular saves. Among these was a key stop against Kaiden Guhle during a three-on-one situation and a critical glove save on Nick Suzuki with less than two minutes left in the game when the Canadiens pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Brandon Duhaime sealed the Capitals' victory with an empty-net goal just 25.6 seconds from the final buzzer.
Throughout the series, Thompson demonstrated his talent, especially during crucial moments when the Canadiens were pushing hard in the third period. The Capitals' strong defense, coupled with Thompson's impressive goaltending, prevented Montreal from finding any rhythm or consistency in their play.
The Montreal Canadiens faced significant challenges this season, previously enduring a difficult stretch where they were at the bottom of the NHL standings. Overcoming these odds, the Canadiens made a surprising return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021 after navigating a rebuilding phase that followed a disastrous start to the 2021-22 season. The team's resurgence included a critical stretch of games where they managed to secure the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 win over Carolina, just before the season ended.
Despite their playoff exit, the Canadiens' season was marked by notable achievements. Captain Nick Suzuki recorded 89 points, the highest for a Canadiens player since the 1995-96 season, while rookie defenseman Lane Hutson set new franchise records. Goalkeeper Sam Montembeault established himself as a reliable starter, contributing significantly to the team's performance. Veterans such as Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher had standout seasons, showcasing the potential for a bright future.
Ultimately, the Montreal Canadiens struggled against the skilled Washington Capitals and could not sustain their momentum from the regular season, where they had shown signs of promise. This playoff experience, despite its abrupt end, lays groundwork for future improvement as they continue to build their franchise's legacy.
