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Story of the Day

The Capitals face the Montreal Canadiens in the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the series starting on Monday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena. It marks the second ever playoff meeting between the Capitals and Canadiens (2010). Washington had a record of 2-0-1 against Montreal during the regular season and outscored the Canadiens 12-8 over three games. Tom Wilson (3g, 1a) and Aliaksei Protas (1g, 3a) led the Capitals with four points in three games versus Montreal in 2024-25, while Alex Ovechkin (1g, 2a), Dylan Strome (1g, 2a) and Taylor Raddysh (3a) each had three points.

The Metropolitan Division winning Capitals were the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season (clinched March 20), while Montreal was the last (clinched April 16). Last season, Washington was the last team to clinch a playoff berth and became the only team since 1979-80 that has gone from being the last to clinch in one season to the first to do so the next season. The Capitals, who qualified for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a -36 goal differential, finished with a +57 goal differential this season. Per NHL Stats, the Capitals’ +93 jump in goal differential is the eighth-highest season-to-season improvement in NHL history among teams who qualified for the playoffs both years.

TEAM

SEASON

DIFF

SEASON

DIFF

GOAL DIFF JUMP

MTL

1942-43

-10

1943-44

125

135

BOS

1969-70

61

1970-71

192

131

EDM

1980-81

1

1981-82

122

121

VAN

1990-91

-72

1991-92

35

107

CHI

1981-82

-31

1982-83

70

101

BUF

1978-79

17

1979-80

117

100

MTL

1973-74

53

1974-75

149

96

WSH

2023-24

-36

2024-25

57

93

BOS

2021-22

35

2022-23

127

92

Schedule & Availability

Sunday, April 20

10:30 a.m. – Practice, MedStar Capitals Iceplex (MedStar Capitals Iceplex OPEN to the public)

Monday, April 21

10:30 a.m. – Optional morning skate, MedStar Capitals Iceplex

Participating players and head coach Spencer Carbery will be available after the skate

7 p.m. – Game 1, Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens, Capital One Arena

TV: MNMT, ESPN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Caps Radio 24/7

Tuesday, April 22

11 a.m. – Practice, MedStar Capitals Iceplex

Wednesday, April 23

10:30 a.m. – Optional morning skate, MedStar Capitals Iceplex

Participating players and head coach Spencer Carbery will be available after the skate

7 p.m. – Game 2, Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens, Capital One Arena

TV: MNMT, ESPN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Caps Radio 24/7

Thursday, April 24

11 a.m. – Practice, MedStar Capitals Iceplex

24-25 Media Guide

Follow @CapitalsPR

Latest Videos

Alex Ovechkin | April 19

Pierre-Luc Dubois | April 19

Dylan Strome | April 19

Tom Wilson | April 19

Pierre-Luc Dubois | Postgame

Connor McMichael | Postgame

Clay Stevenson | Postgame

Alex Ovechkin | April 17

Clay Stevenson | April 17

Nic Dowd | April 16

Caps Clips

April 19, 2025

Dump ’n Chase: Caps Fall to Pens in Finale, 5-2 / Skate Shavings -- News and Notes from Caps' Morning Skate / Eight Gr8 Moments -- Ovechkin Hits 800 in Chicago / Caps in School 50th Anniversary Song

Washington Post: Game 82 didn’t mean much to the Caps. It meant a lot to Clay Stevenson.

Monumental Sports Network: Recapping Caps-Habs season matchups ahead of playoff tilt / How to watch every Capitals 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Game

The Athletic: NHL playoff predictions 2025: First-round winners, dark horse and Stanley Cup champion (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Stanley Cup tiers: Anonymous GM and executives rate every playoff team (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Which NHL team should you root for in the playoffs? The 2025 bandwagon-hopper’s guide (Washington Capitals mentioned) / NHL report cards: Grading every team’s 2024-25 regular season (Washington Capitals mentioned) / NHL playoffs: The goaltending storylines to watch in the first round, including ‘Bob’ vs. ‘Big Cat’ (Logan Thompson mentioned) / Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin put on show in second period to remember: Yohe’s 10 observations / NHL playoff schedule set: Here are the dates and TV networks for all 8 first-round series (Washington Capitals mentioned)

NHL.com: Rookies who could have big impact in playoffs discussed by NHL.com staff / Short Shifts Power Rankings: April 18 (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Capitals, Canadiens meet for second time after 1st wild series in 2010 / Stanley Cup handoff offers many options for playoff captains (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Crosby, Malkin gift Ovechkin Rolex for breaking NHL scoring record, fans give ovation / 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Capitals vs. Canadiens Eastern 1st round preview / Rust scores twice, gets 30 goals for 1st time, Penguins top Capitals / EDGE stats: X-factor for each team in Stanley Cup Playoffs (Pierre-Luc Dubois mentioned)

AP: From old guys chasing the Stanley Cup to new players breaking in, what to watch in the NHL playoffs (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Current and former Golden Knights goalies helped lead 3 teams to NHL playoffs (Logan Thompson mentioned) / Ovechkin adds to record goal total, Crosby dazzles as Penguins top Capitals 5-2 in season finale / What to know about the first-round matchups in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs (Washington capitals mentioned)

The Hockey News: The Wraparound: What Role Will The Canadiens Give Ivan Demidov Against Washington?

The Hockey News – Washington: Capitals Mailbag: Injury Updates, Ryan Leonard, Black Aces & Impact Guys For Playoffs / Capitals Putting Rough End To Year In Rearview, Feel Confident & Ready For Playoffs: 'We've Played All Season For This' / Crosby & Malkin Gift Ovechkin Rolex As Penguins Honor Capitals Captain / Takeaways: Cut-Back Capitals Fall To Penguins In Rough Season Finale / Capitals vs. Penguins Preview: Line Combinations, Stats, Storylines To Watch / Ovechkin Proud Of What He & Crosby Have Done For NHL, Reiterates He's Not Retiring Yet / Capitals Start Stanley Cup Playoffs On Monday; Full First-Round Schedule vs. Canadiens / Capitals Notebook: Stevenson To Make NHL Debut, Ovechkin In, Protas & Thompson Updates

Sportsnet: NHL Power Rankings: Can Jets meet the moment? (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 Preview: Capitals vs. Canadiens / Sportsnet releases Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Capitals' speedy return to contender status worthy of league-wide envy / All 8 opening matchups confirmed for Stanley Cup Playoffs (Washington Capitals mentioned)

TSN: TSN’s Top 25 NHL players of the season: The timeless greatness of Sid and Ovi / Can the Habs find a way to extend their magical season by upsetting the Capitals? / Ovechkin says he's not retiring, will return for final year of contract with Capitals / Morning Coffee: Habs punch playoff ticket, open as heavy underdog versus Capitals

ESPN: 2025 Stanley Cup first-round betting guide: Best bets and Conn Smythe picks from every series (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Alex Ovechkin adds to record with 897th goal in Caps' finale

Bleacher Report: Alex Ovechkin Says He's 'Not Retiring,' to Return for Final Year of Capitals Contract / Updated NHL Awards Predictions After the 2024-25 NHL Season (Washington Capitals mentioned) / 1 Word for Every NHL Team's 2024-25 Regular Season (Washington Capitals mentioned)

Reuters: With Ovechkin's 'Gr8 Chase' over, Capitals seek ultimate prize

Sporting News: Capitals playoff tickets 2025: Best costs, seats, schedule, bracket for Washington DC NHL postseason games

Barrett Media: Who’s Next in Line to Challenge Ovechkin’s Goal Legacy?

Olympics: 2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: Preview, schedule, how to watch (Washington Capitals mentioned)

Barron’s: Ted Leonsis on Washington Capitals, Wizards, Ratings, and More

Daily Faceoff: 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1 series picks (Washington Capitals mentioned) / NHL sets regular-season attendance record in 2024-25 (Alex Ovechkin mentioned) / Breaking down every Round 1 goaltending matchup in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs (Washington Capitals mentioned) / 16 Sleepers: A potential unsung hero for every 2024-25 playoff team (Aliaksei Protas mentioned) / 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Capitals vs. Canadiens series preview / Capitals’ Clay Stevenson to make NHL debut in team’s regular-season finale against Penguins

Sports Illustrated: Penguins' Stars Congratulate Alex Ovechkin With Special Gift / Sidney Crosby Gave Alex Ovechkin a Lovely Gift After Penguins-Capitals / Alex Ovechkin Addresses NHL Future Before Potential Final Matchup vs. Sidney Crosby / NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket, Puck Drop Times for First-Round Matchups (Washington Capitals mentioned) / Canadiens Seek Shocking Upset Against Capitals

The Globe and Mail: The 2025 NHL playoffs: a series-by-series preview (Washington Capitals mentioned)

Toronto Sun: Todd: You read it here first -- Canadiens oust Capitals in seven games / Hickey: Canadiens have the tools to repeat their 2010 upset of Capitals / Young Habs team has nothing to lose against favoured Capitals | HI/O Show

Montreal Gazette: Hickey: Canadiens have the tools to repeat their 2010 upset of Capitals

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Capitals' Alex Ovechkin gets standing ovation from Penguins crowd while being honored with video tribute

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin gift Alex Ovechkin a Rolex watch / In season of broken records, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin bring respect for one another into 73rd career meeting

New York Post: Conn Smythe odds, predictions for 2025 NHL playoffs (Charlie Lindgren mentioned)

The Detroit News: Thursday's hockey: Ovechkin finishes with 897 goals; Blues' good luck charm

Washington Times: Capitals to open playoffs against Canadiens on Monday night

Bethesda Magazine: ‘Sing loud in ALL CAPS’: MoCo students star in video celebrating Capitals’ 50th anniversary

WTOP: Lighting the lamp: Preparing for the playoffs

The Team 980: NHL releases schedule for Capitals-Canadiens first-round series

106.7 The Fan: Junkies: Nic Dowd on his contract extension - and Ted Leonsis' feelings about it

NBC 4 Washington: Caps fans rally before NHL playoffs / Caps to rally with fans at Union Market before playoffs begin Monday

WJLA-TV ABC 7: Capitals Pep Rally / Washington Capitals fans take part in playoff pep rally festivities / Capitals set to face Canadiens in playoffs as fans gear up for games at Capital One Arena / Washington Capitals NHL Round 1 playoff schedule vs. Montreal Canadiens: What to know / Washington Capitals: What is takes to start round one of the playoffs on the right foot

WUSA-TV CBS 9: Capitals playoff pep rally kicked off at Union Market / What to know about the first-round matchups in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs / Capitals fans get ready for Stanley Cup playoff push / Caps fall to the Pens | Stevenson shines despite loss | Caps vs Habs preview

WTTG-TV FOX 5: Capitals Stanley Cup playoff pep rally

FOX 45 News (Baltimore, Md.): Capitals set to face Canadiens in playoffs as fans gear up for games at Capital One Arena

The MoCo Show: MCPS Elementary Students Star in Capitals-Themed Music Video for Team’s 50th Anniversary

Kid Friendly DC: The Weekend Round-Up: April 18-20 (Washington Capitals mentioned)

The Score: NHL announces Round 1 playoff schedule (Washington Capitals mentioned)

The Gist: Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NHL Playoffs

Broadcast (Excluding Game Highlights):

Washington Capitals: Capitals, Canadiens series preview / Pierre-Luc Dubois | Postgame / Connor McMichael | Postgame / Clay Stevenson | Postgame / Spencer Carbery | Postgame / Alex Ovechkin | April 17 / Clay Stevenson | April 17 / Rinkside Update | Alexander Alexeyev / Capitals Top 50 Moments | Dueling Hat Tricks / Spencer Carbery | April 17 / Making of "ALL CAPS" by Paulie Z and Brooke Grove Elem.

Monumental Sports Network: Caps Pregame Live On the Brooke Grove Elementary Song / Best moments of Capitals' 50th anniversary season / Brooke Grove Elementary debuts Caps 50th anniversary song / What to expect from Caps first round playoff matchup - 4/17 / When Nic Dowd found out about his contract extension - 4/17 / Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby: 20 years of greatness / Caps Rink Report | Chapter 73 of Ovechkin vs. Crosby / Caps Rink Report | Dowd on contract extension with Caps / Gr8 Chase Roundtable Part 2: Breaking the record

Caps Radio 24/7: Caps This Morning with John Walton & Katie Florio: Today's Podcast

DC News Now: On the Brooke Grove Elementary Song (Also aired at 6 p.m., 9 p.m.)

WBIG-FM: On the playoff pep rally

WTTG-TV FOX 5: On the playoff pep rally (also aired at 6 p.m.)