The Washington Capitals finally broke a seven-year drought by winning a playoff series, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Even better, they did it in front of their home fans for the first time since 2015.
Captain Alex Ovechkin got things started early with a powerful shot off a faceoff to put Washington Capitals on the board. The goal brought the home crowd to its feet, chanting “Ovi! Ovi!” in celebration.
Stellar Goaltending from Logan Thompson
Goaltender Logan Thompson was the real difference-maker, making 28 saves—some of them spectacular—to hold off a desperate Montreal offense. Fans chanted “LT! LT!” in appreciation, especially after his glove save on Nick Suzuki in the final minutes.
“He’s a rock,” said Capitals forward Dylan Strome. “He made the big saves when we needed them.”
Power Play Delivers as Capitals Dominate
Washington Capitals capitalized on the power play with Tom Wilson adding an insurance goal late in the second period. Pierre-Luc Dubois also set up a beauty of a goal for Jakob Chychrun just minutes after Ovechkin’s opener. Brandon Duhaime sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final seconds.
The Capitals now move on to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round, with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.
Canadiens Show Promise Despite Exit
The Canadiens, missing key players like goalie Sam Montembeault and scorer Patrik Laine, managed a goal from Emil Heineman but couldn’t match the Capitals’ firepower. Despite the loss, coach Martin St. Louis praised his young team.
“We introduced ourselves to the league in these playoffs,” he said. “We can walk out of here with our heads held high.”
