This is what the St. Louis Blues were grinding for, for the past two months. On the outside looking in, it's all come to fruition now and to be on the grandest stage to be competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs is what it's all about.

The Blues, the second wild card from the Western Conference, open the best-of-7 Western Conference First Round on Saturday against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets (5 p.m.; FDSNMW, TNT, truTV, MAX, CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN 101.1-FM) at Canada Life Centre.

It will be the second playoff meeting between the Blues and Jets, with the first taking place in 2019 when the teams also met in the first round, with the Blues winning in six games en route to their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

"It's very exciting," said Blues defenseman Cam Fowler, who will return to the postseason for the first time since 2018 with the Anaheim Ducks. "That's what all of us play for is to have the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup. I've certainly missed that feeling over those past few years so I'm grateful and excited to get this opportunity again. There's nothing like it. Playoffs in the NHL is as good as it gets in any sport. As an athlete competing in it, you just try and take in the moment and you enjoy it and know that it's going to be a battle. We have to appreciate it because the opportunity doesn't come around every year.

"We know it's going to be a difficult test, but you get yourself into the playoffs, anything can happen. We've got to prepare as best as we can and make sure that we're ready to go because going into Winnipeg is always going to be a challenge and they played great hockey throughout the course of the year but especially on home ice. We've got to make sure that we're ready for that challenge."

Plenty of storylines are in the air heading into the series, from the head-to-head matchup (again) between Blues goalie Jordan Binnington and Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, who is the odds-on favorite to win the Vezina Trophy and is under serious consideration to also win the Hart Trophy; there's the Winnipeg 'White Out' that's encapsulated playoffs past with picturesque views.

"I'm super-excited and I'm looking forward to it," said Blues forward Zack Bolduc, who will make his NHL playoff debut. "I've been watching playoff games in Winnipeg growing up. You see all the white shirts in the stands. Now I get the chance to experience it and I'm looking forward to it."

And there's the brotherly battle between Blues captain Brayden Schenn and older brother, Winnipeg defenseman Luke Schenn.

"I love my brother, it's a unique situation, you never think you'd be playing as many games as we have and never played each other in the Stanley Cup (playoffs)," Brayden said, "but here we are. The type of games that we have to play are physical and be in your face type of hockey. I don't see me or Luke talking about this much longer. To each other, it's not about me vs. Luke. It's the Blues vs. the Jets and we'd like it to be like that. We understand it's brotherly competition, but at the end of the day, we respect our team, we respect the game and we're going to play each other hard and have a beer and laugh about it in the summer.

"... It's an intense building, it's fun. Hockey playoffs in a Canadian city, people embrace it. It's always fun to go on the road to start. ... We're looking forward to getting back there. It's a fun place to play and it's a good hockey team that's going to give us a good challenge."

The Blues had to go through a gauntlet to receive entry into the playoffs by going 19-4-2 in 25 games following the 4 Nations Face-Off break, including a franchise record 12-game winning streak when they were eight points out of a wild card position and made up that ground.

"I loved how we got here, but it's over and done with," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. "I'm on to Winnipeg and I'm in the Stanley Cup playoff mode. This is such a cherished opportunity to be a part of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's great we earned our way there, but now it's over and done with and it's what are we going to do now that we're here.

"I think playoffs are a completely different animal. In that sense, whatever we've done in the last two months to get ourselves ready for this, it helps. Just like the outstanding season that they've had for 82 games, helps them prepare for the playoffs, but it's a different animal. It's like going from civilization to the wild, wild west. It's completely different, and the way people react and how people respond, it's different because results are immediate. You don't have the next two games to correct things. You've got to correct them within games."

The series resumes with Game 2 on Monday (6:30 p.m.) before the series shifts to St. Louis for Game 3 on Thursday (8:30 p.m.) and Game 4 on Sunday, April 27 (noon).

"It’s loud, they’re passionate fans there and the city’s definitely excited and waiting for us," Binnington said. "It’s something that, looking back on it, is such an incredible experience to feel that energy and emotion and go out and just play hockey and do our best to play our game and win our game. It’s a great opportunity for us and we’re excited in here.

"We’ve put in the work and we caught our stride at the right time. We have to keep looking forward and keep mentally strong here and focusing on what we can do to win and just playing together and more of the same that we’ve been doing."

- - -

An area the Blues worked on Friday and know they'll have to excel at in this series is net front presence and being able to box out the Jets at the other end.

Sounds simple enough but they're areas that could, along with special teams play, make or brake a team in a series.

"Really important. I think obviously when you’re facing a goaltender like Hellebuyck, it’s important to get traffic in front of him, create a lot of chaos in there," Blues forward Jake Neighbours said, "and obviously they have some big D, too, that are pretty good at boxing out and being physical and stuff like that. As forwards, winning those battles and getting to the net-front is going to be pretty important.

"Obviously I’ve never played playoff hockey, but I’d imagine (getting boxed out) are the frustrations you’re going to deal with. Nothing’s going to be for free out there. It’s going to be real tight. You have to work for every inch of space you want out there. It’s going to be tight checking, we know that, we expect that. I think when you go into it expecting those things, it’s a little bit easier not to get frustrated because you know it’s coming. We understand how hard it’s going to be to get there and create offense and we’re ready for that."

It's why Montgomery was urging his players to be more assertive in those areas on Friday.

"They are a really good net front team," Montgomery said. "Defensively, they haven't given up much. They defend their net really well. We've got to find way to get in front of Hellebuyck, who's had an outstanding year, and defensively, they're a team that always has an anchor in front of the net, always has someone there and we've got to make sure in our D-zone coverage, that we're boxing out or fronting pucks and our wings are getting out and taking away. They shoot a lot of pucks from their point men.

"The urgency that, as a coach you’d like to see for trying to bury pucks and attacking the blue paint was not at the level I’d like to see. We’re going to have to be good at it. They’re the best defensive team in the league. If you don’t make it hard on them, it’s going to be easy on them."

The Jets do more than just take away the middle of the ice, though.

"They protect the middle of the ice really well but I’ve got to say they protect lines well, they protect their net-front really well," Montgomery said. "In order for us to have success, we are going to have to, and this is true every playoffs, you’re not playing the teams that were out of the playoffs at Thanksgiving anymore. You’re playing the best teams in the league and they’re in the playoffs for a reason because they’re usually really good defensively. That’s first and foremost and then they can counter-attack and score goals."

- - -

A couple roster updates include Robert Thomas, who is set to go after not skating on Thursday but being a full participant on Friday after leaving Tuesday's season finale, a 6-1 win against Utah Hockey Club, in the third period with a lower-body injury.

"Yeah he looks fine out there to me in practice and I talked to him at the end," Montgomery said. "He said, ‘All good.’"

As for Dylan Holloway, who missed the last five games with a lower-body injury of his own and has not skated with the team since, being termed week to week, there was no indication by Montgomery he would be traveling for the first two games. The balls are still up in the air as far as when/if Holloway would be available.

- - -

They're not as hyped during games in the regular season unless they're marquee matchups, but now that the playoffs have arrived, they tend to be more magnified.

The home side obviously gets the upper hand on matchups, and that's why for Montgomery, he himself though has a luxury because of his willingness and trust whoever he uses in any situation.

"I find it much easier to just coach on your toes on the road," Montgomery said. "You put out your line and you dictate matchups and if it’s not a matchup you like, the players have to battle through it. Every time there’s a whistle, they’re going to get their matchup. So, as a coach, you just put out the guys you think are in favorable situations, whether it's offensive zone, neutral zone, defensive zone and you live with your decisions. You’re asking your players and you’re trusting your players to get the job done.

"It’s a huge benefit for us when your third- and fourth-line centers are Faksa and Sunny. They’re not only grizzled veterans, but they’re hard and they’re really good defensively and they’re really sound, they’re really physical and mean. So, when you have that, it’s a huge benefit as a coach because you can just throw them out at any time and if there’s an icing, you’re perfectly comfortable with it."

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich

Jimmy Snuggerud-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc

Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker

Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Ryan Suter-Nick Leddy

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Tyler Tucker, Alexandre Texier, Matthew Kessel and Will Cranley. Dylan Holloway (lower body) remains week to week. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.

- - -

Jets Projected Lineup:

Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Alex Iafallo

Nino Niederreiter-Vladislav Namestnikov-Cole Perfetti

Brandon Tanev-Adam Lowry-Mason Appleton

David Gustafsson-Morgan Barron-Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Josh Morrissey-Dylan DeMelo

Dylan Samberg-Neal Pionk

Logan Stanley-Luke Schenn

Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal; Eric Comrie will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Dominic Toninato, Haydn Fleury, Colin Miller, Ville Heinola and Chris Driedger. Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body) is week to week; Gabriel Vilardi (upper body) and Rasmus Kupari (concussion) are out.

LAS VEGAS -- There are storylines aplenty across every NHL Playoff series, and will be as we get closer to the Stanley Cup Final.

When the Golden Knights open their series against the Minnesota Wild, it'll mark the second time the franchises meet in the playoffs.

Vegas won the first postseason battle in seven games, after the Wild turned back a 3-1 series deficit to tie the seven-game set, only to lose in the decisive final game at T-Mobile Arena.

Those still on the roster haven't forgotten. One guy on the roster - Marc-Andre Fleury - surely hasn't forgotten since he was with the Knights at the time. Now he'll back up Filip Gustavsson in what could ironically be the final series of his Hall of Fame career.

Head-to-head matchups from all three units also provide intriguing storylines.

Gustavsson will be opposed by Adin Hill, who rose to fame when he came off the bench to lead the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup title in 2023 after Laurent Brossoit got hurt eight games into the playoffs.

Hill finished the season with 32 wins, the fifth most in the league, and a 2.47 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. Gustavsson wasn't far behind with 31 wins, while finishing with a 2.56 GAA and .914 save percentage.

Both teams have top-tier defensemen in Jared Spurgeon and Shea Theodore, who led the blueliners in points on the Wild and Knights, respectively.

Theodore enjoyed a better season than his counterpart, finishing 10th among all defensemen with 57 points. His 50 assists were the ninth highest in the league, while his 0.85 points per game ranked seventh. Spurgeon, who has 933 games played under his belt, had 32 points (7 goals and 25 assists) in 66 games played.

Last, but certainly not least, we have two of the most electric forwards in the NHL, with Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov and Vegas' Jack Eichel.

Kaprizov just recently returned to the lineup after missing February and March, but he was also leading the Hart Trophy conversation in December after opening the season with 23 goals and 50 points in his first 34 games. His scoring prowess at the time lifted the Wild to the top of the NHL standings.

Eichel, a Hart and Selke Trophy candidate, is having a career season. He racked up a career-best 94 points (8th in the NHL) behind 66 assists, another career-high, in 77 games. His 66 helpers ranked sixth among all skaters. His 1.22 points per game were eighth best, while his 34 power-play points were seventh highest. Coincidentally, his 11 points in nine games from Dec. 4-27 helped push the Knights to a deadlock with Winnipeg and New Jersey atop the league standings on Dec. 27.

The matchups run much deeper than these three, obviously, which goes back to many storylines that could unfold when the series gets underway Sunday night at 7 pm (pacific) inside T-Mobile Arena.

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Throughout a tumultuous 2024–25 season, the Vancouver Canucks saw 18 new players join their lineup via trade, AHL call-up, or free agency. 14 of these players remained with the team until the end of the regular season. During the team’s year-end media availability, some of these players reflected on their experiences with the team. 

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Jake DeBrusk signed a five-year contract with the Canucks on July 1, 2024. He ended the season as the team’s leading goal scorer with 28 in 82 games. This marks a new career high for him, despite occasionally going through some cold stretches. 

“It was a pretty crazy one,” he said of his first year in Vancouver. “There’s lots of things that happened throughout the whole season. The first year here, these guys used everything there’s some highs and lows. But at the same point, you know, I think that obviously you don’t get to the playoffs. I think that’s my game plan was to try to help win. And, you know, unfortunately, we’re sitting here talking.” 

Another free-agent signing who reached career-highs in his first year with the Canucks was Kiefer Sherwood, who will be a free agent come the end of the 2025–26 season. Sherwood broke both personal, franchise, and league records this season. He scored a career-high of 19 goals, including his first NHL hat trick, and had his first 40-point season. As well, he smashed hit record after hit record, ultimately setting a new NHL high in hits made in one season with 462. 

“Just that it’s been a lot of ups and downs. I think emotionally, spent a lot this season dealing with, you know, all the adversity that our team faced, but I think as players, you just try to go about your business, put one foot in front of the other, and take it day by day. Always just trying to find the next game or next opportunity to kind of grow yourself and build something special here,” he said during his season-ending media availability. 

Despite some of the drama and disappointment of this season, Sherwood is optimistic about what 2025–26 has in store. “We’ve got a lot of things that we’re looking forward to. We faced so much stuff this year and we were right on the brink of playoffs. Overall, I think it sucks to not be in the playoffs, but we’re in a good spot because the fire in our belly is probably gonna get a little bit bigger this summer. And I think everyone can look in the mirror and be a little bit more accountable and figure out where we’re gonna be better moving forward. And I think we’re gonna take a couple steps next year.” 

One of the team’s most important players throughout the season, Kevin Lankinen was signed by the Canucks on September 21, 2024. He went on to play in 51 of the team’s 82 games, posting 25 wins and four shutouts. His impressive play throughout the first half of the season resulted in him signing a five-year contract with Vancouver on February 21 — exactly five months after his first contract was inked. 

“It was a great experience,” Lankinen said of his first season with the Canucks. “I loved my time here and obviously, going back to the summer, my goal was to find a place where I can showcase myself as the number one goalie. I was fortunate to get the opportunity here, and yeah, just really liked how everything worked out, and pretty happy with the season.” 

Elias Pettersson (D) was the first of two new Petterssons to enter the Canucks’ lineup this season. The defender was picked 80th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut on January 25, 2025 against the Washington Capitals. He was one of six Abbotsford Canucks to make their NHL debut this season. 

“Great experience for me. I think I learned a lot this year,” he said. 

The next Pettersson, Marcus Pettersson, ended up in Vancouver following the J.T. Miller trade on January 31. Vancouver shipped two other new Canucks, Danton Heinen and Vincent Desharnais, back to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return. After an impressive couple of games, the elder Pettersson was signed to a six-year, $5.5M AAV contract extension on February 5 — five days after he was acquired.  

“I came into a locker room that wants to win. The care factor from all the guys is right there. Everybody loves each other and wants to push each other. So I think we have a young group, still very young group, and I think we can learn about from this year on and off the ice, and if we can learn and grow from that, but I think we’re in a great spot.” 

Accompanying Pettersson from Pittsburgh was Drew O’Connor, who also impressed with his speed and heavy forecheck early on. Like his Penguins teammate, O’Connor also signed an extension with the Canucks at the beginning of his time with Vancouver. He signed his new two-year, $2.5M AAV deal on February 18, 2025. 

“It’s been good. I’ve enjoyed the group here,” O’Connor said of his first few games with the Canucks. “Obviously, it’s been a little bit up and down the last little while, and we’d obviously like to be in playoffs, so I think we’re all pretty motivated through the summer to make that happen. But it’s been a great little while here that I enjoyed.” 

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The big day is finally here.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin today, Saturday.

The Colorado Avalanche will play a best-of-seven series against the Dallas Stars. During last year’s playoff run, the Avalanche faced the Stars in the Conference Semi-Finals and lost the series in six games.

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However, the Avalanche has had a favorable playoff history against the Stars. They have a record of 19-18 overall. The Stars having home ice doesn’t matter too much, as the Avalanche have an 11-8 record on the road.

During last year’s playoffs, they went 2-1 on the road against the Stars. The Avalanche will look to continue that luck on the road. However, they will have to do that against former teammate Mikko Rantanen.

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Rantanen spoke to reporters present during their Friday practice ahead of Game One. He talked about many things, including what it’s like to face his old team for the first time in the playoffs.

“It’s business, the trade didn’t happen two days ago,” Rantanen said. “It’s been a while now since I haven’t played with the Avs anymore. It’s been three months.”

“I think it’s all behind us. Now it’s just part of a new team and I’m excited and (it’s) time to execute.”

Rantanen spoke about how the two teams line up and pointed out the deep roster that both teams have.

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“I think they (Colorado) have depth too,” Rantanen reasoned. “It’s two deep teams. If you look at the four lines, they’re all pretty evenly matched out, a lot of good players.”

“Both have a good D-core, and two good goalies.”

In terms of how difficult it will be to face his old team, Rantanen had this to say.

“Second time is always easier than the first time, in everything in life,” Rantanen said. “It’s one of those situations where I think it was a good thing to get that game out of the way and it was a regular season game, now it’s all business.”

If Rantanen is right, fans of the Avalanche and Stars are in for a treat of a series.

“I think it’s a really good matchup for fans to watch.”

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The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks finished at the bottom of the NHL this season, but both have plenty of great young talent and are working to become contenders for a long time. That isn't going to be a short journey and each needs the right pieces. There seems to be some higher thinking going on ahead of the draft lottery to help the Sharks get there.

Sheng Peng reported that Sharks' GM Mike Grier said he is willing to entertain offers for the first overall pick in the 2025 draft if San Jose were to win it. The Sharks drafted Macklin Celebrini last year and could very well move back for a little extra.

If #SJSharks get the No. 1 pick, Grier says he's more willing to entertain offers for it than last year.

Not that he's giving it away, he'd be looking for a Herschel Walker/Ricky Williams-type offer.

"At the top, after Schaefer, it's probably more forward-heavy."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 18, 2025

While moving back a few spots in the draft is a more likely possibility to get some extra value, the Blackhawks, who may pick right behind the Sharks this season in the draft could offer up an interesting trade.

Teams may be focusing on how to move up in this draft with their current picks and players, but the Sharks may be intrigued by an offer that includes the Blackhawks' unprotected first round pick next season. Chicago isn't expected to be much better next season, so they should still have a shot at winning the draft lottery again next year.

This would give the Blackhawks two assumed top-4 picks in the 2025 draft to progress the rebuild quicker and the Sharks would get two shots at Gavin McKenna next year. The Blackhawks would of course love to draft McKenna as well, but it's a percentage game and nothing is for certain.

The only problem I potentially see with the Blackhawks having the first and possibly second overall picks this season is that Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman, is widely regarded as the best player in the draft. Chicago doesn't need any more defensemen with Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Wyatt Kaiser, and even Louis Crevier.

While it wouldn't make a ton of sense to draft Schaefer, it is best to draft the best player available and work things out later. I think it could be a possibility since Michael Misa and James Hagens are there, but also a shot at McKenna next year for the Blackhawks may just be too good to pass up. A 1-2 punch of McKenna and Connor Bedard would more than likely lead to a Stanley Cup down the line.

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The Montreal Canadiens will return to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2021 final when their first-round series against the Washington Capitals kicks off on Monday.

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While the objective was only to be in the mix this season for the rebuilding Canadiens, they’ve exceeded it and are now playing with house money as one of the biggest underdogs of the first round. Standing in their way are the Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division champions, the Capitals.

The Regular Season

There is a 20-point difference in the standings between the two sides, but the Canadiens were in the best shape in the final 10 games of the season, going 7-1-2 down the stretch while Washington went 4-6-0. The D.C. outfit lost four of the six games played after sniper extraordinaire and team captain Alexander Ovechkin beat Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. Some feared the Gr8 Chase would be a distraction during the regular season, but it became a motivator for the whole team. Still, since the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Canadiens put up 36 points on the board while the Capitals put up 31. 

The teams crossed paths three times this season, and Spencer Carbery’s men came out on top twice, but Martin St-Louis’ charges won the most recent duel 3-2 in January. The Caps’ wins came in October (6-3) and December (4-2), which means they outscored Montreal 12-8 in the season series. It’s worth noting that both of the Caps' wins came before the Canadiens turned a corner in their progression and went on a couple of impressive winning streaks.

The Attack

Throughout the season series, Cole Caufield has been the Canadiens’ top scorer with five points in three games, followed by Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson, who both have four. Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Christian Dvorak, David Savard, Josh Anderson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Kaiden Guhle had a single point while everyone else was kept off the scoresheet.

If the Canadiens hope to win this series, the attack must be spread around, starting with the second line. Kirby Dach is still out of action, so rookie Ivan Demidov has landed in the top six, skating alongside Newhook and Patrik Laine. If they can find a way to be a real threat to the Capitals’ defence, it will ease the pressure on the Suzuki line and cause Carbery headaches.

The attack was much more spread out for Washington, with gritty winger Tom Wilson and youngster Aliaksei Protas (who is currently sidelined with an injury) leading the way with four points apiece in three games. Ovechkin, center Dylan Strome, and right winger Taylor Raddysh all had three points, but the captain did it in two games, missing one of the duels.

Connor McMichael, Pierre-Luc Dubois, John Carlson, Jacob Chychrun, and Trevor Van Riemsdyk all scored two points in the season series, demonstrating that the Capitals have more offensive contributors.

While Ovechkin will be one of the guys to watch for the Canadiens, they can’t afford to let Wilson get too comfortable. The rugged winger has a very physical game that Montreal would do well to tame quickly. With Arber Xhekaj sitting out the last five games of the season, it’s hard to imagine St. Louis deploying him to start the series, and Guhle might have to handle the 225-pound, six-foot-four ball of hate, even though Xhekaj would have had a weight advantage on him.

The Goaltending

In net, St-Louis will go with Samuel Montembeault, the Becancour native, who had the best season of his career with 31 wins, a 2.80 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. The number one netminder has played six times against the first-round foe and has a 2-3-0 record against them, alongside a 3.49 GAA and a .893 SP. This series will be his baptism of fire; he’s among the numerous Canadiens players who have never tasted playoff hockey.

Should he struggle, Jakub Dobes will be waiting in the wings. The young netminder was in the net for the Canadiens’ only win against the Capitals this season. The Czech keeper has a 7-4-3 record this season with a 2.74 GAA and a .909 SP. Needless to say he has no NHL playoffs experience.

The situation is a bit trickier for the Capitals, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren shared goaltending duties this season, with the former playing in 43 games and the latter 39. Thompson had the better record; he was 31-6-6 with a 2.49 GAA and a .910 SP, while Lindgren was 20-14-3- with a 2.73 GAA and a .910 SP. The problem is, though, Thompson is currently dealing with an injury, and there’s no word about his availability for the start of the series.

Thompson is 1-0-1 against the Canadiens with a 3.04 GAA and a .889 SP, while Lindgren, a former Hab, is 3-1-0 against them with a 2.51 GAA and a .899 SP. Goaltenders Clay Stevenson and Hunter Sheppard have each played a game for the Caps this season, with the former allowing five goals and the latter seven. One can safely assume Carbery would likely prefer not to go there.

The Experience

If Montreal wants to come out on top, they need to find a way to stop Oveckin on the power play, something every teams in the league has been trying to do for 20 years now. It's the play you know its coming and yet seem to be unable to do anything about it. It's similar to the Hutson-Laine combination on the power play, except it seems to work every time. 

The Capitals are the far older and more experienced team, having won the Stanley Cup in 2017-18, and according to St-Louis himself, the Canadiens’ goal this season was to learn to win and handle the pressure that comes with it. It wasn’t easy, and it took them four games to secure their playoff berth under pressure. In the postseason, there is nothing but pressure, and you can’t afford to need four tries to win a game. School is in session, and the Habs must be on their best behavior to pass the next lesson, they can’t afford to sleep through the first period either.

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The Montreal Canadiens will return to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2021 final when their first-round series against the Washington Capitals kicks off on Monday.

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While the objective was only to be in the mix this season for the rebuilding Canadiens, they’ve exceeded it and are now playing with house money as one of the biggest underdogs of the first round. Standing in their way are the Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division champions, the Capitals.

The Regular Season

There is a 20-point difference in the standings between the two sides, but the Canadiens were in the best shape in the final 10 games of the season, going 7-1-2 down the stretch while Washington went 4-6-0. The D.C. outfit lost four of the six games played after sniper extraordinaire and team captain Alexander Ovechkin beat Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. Some feared the Gr8 Chase would be a distraction during the regular season, but it became a motivator for the whole team. Still, since the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Canadiens put up 36 points on the board while the Capitals put up 31. 

The teams crossed paths three times this season, and Spencer Carbery’s men came out on top twice, but Martin St-Louis’ charges won the most recent duel 3-2 in January. The Caps’ wins came in October (6-3) and December (4-2), which means they outscored Montreal 12-8 in the season series. It’s worth noting that both of the Caps' wins came before the Canadiens turned a corner in their progression and went on a couple of impressive winning streaks.

The Attack

Throughout the season series, Cole Caufield has been the Canadiens’ top scorer with five points in three games, followed by Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson, who both have four. Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Christian Dvorak, David Savard, Josh Anderson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Kaiden Guhle had a single point while everyone else was kept off the scoresheet.

If the Canadiens hope to win this series, the attack must be spread around, starting with the second line. Kirby Dach is still out of action, so rookie Ivan Demidov has landed in the top six, skating alongside Newhook and Patrik Laine. If they can find a way to be a real threat to the Capitals’ defence, it will ease the pressure on the Suzuki line and cause Carbery headaches.

The attack was much more spread out for Washington, with gritty winger Tom Wilson and youngster Aliaksei Protas (who is currently sidelined with an injury) leading the way with four points apiece in three games. Ovechkin, center Dylan Strome, and right winger Taylor Raddysh all had three points, but the captain did it in two games, missing one of the duels.

Connor McMichael, Pierre-Luc Dubois, John Carlson, Jacob Chychrun, and Trevor Van Riemsdyk all scored two points in the season series, demonstrating that the Capitals have more offensive contributors.

While Ovechkin will be one of the guys to watch for the Canadiens, they can’t afford to let Wilson get too comfortable. The rugged winger has a very physical game that Montreal would do well to tame quickly. With Arber Xhekaj sitting out the last five games of the season, it’s hard to imagine St. Louis deploying him to start the series, and Guhle might have to handle the 225-pound, six-foot-four ball of hate, even though Xhekaj would have had a weight advantage on him.

The Goaltending

In net, St-Louis will go with Samuel Montembeault, the Becancour native, who had the best season of his career with 31 wins, a 2.80 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. The number one netminder has played six times against the first-round foe and has a 2-3-0 record against them, alongside a 3.49 GAA and a .893 SP. This series will be his baptism of fire; he’s among the numerous Canadiens players who have never tasted playoff hockey.

Should he struggle, Jakub Dobes will be waiting in the wings. The young netminder was in the net for the Canadiens’ only win against the Capitals this season. The Czech keeper has a 7-4-3 record this season with a 2.74 GAA and a .909 SP. Needless to say he has no NHL playoffs experience.

The situation is a bit trickier for the Capitals, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren shared goaltending duties this season, with the former playing in 43 games and the latter 39. Thompson had the better record; he was 31-6-6 with a 2.49 GAA and a .910 SP, while Lindgren was 20-14-3- with a 2.73 GAA and a .910 SP. The problem is, though, Thompson is currently dealing with an injury, and there’s no word about his availability for the start of the series.

Thompson is 1-0-1 against the Canadiens with a 3.04 GAA and a .889 SP, while Lindgren, a former Hab, is 3-1-0 against them with a 2.51 GAA and a .899 SP. Goaltenders Clay Stevenson and Hunter Sheppard have each played a game for the Caps this season, with the former allowing five goals and the latter seven. One can safely assume Carbery would likely prefer not to go there.

The Experience

If Montreal wants to come out on top, they need to find a way to stop Oveckin on the power play, something every teams in the league has been trying to do for 20 years now. It's the play you know its coming and yet seem to be unable to do anything about it. It's similar to the Hutson-Laine combination on the power play, except it seems to work every time. 

The Capitals are the far older and more experienced team, having won the Stanley Cup in 2017-18, and according to St-Louis himself, the Canadiens’ goal this season was to learn to win and handle the pressure that comes with it. It wasn’t easy, and it took them four games to secure their playoff berth under pressure. In the postseason, there is nothing but pressure, and you can’t afford to need four tries to win a game. School is in session, and the Habs must be on their best behavior to pass the next lesson, they can’t afford to sleep through the first period either.

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