Caps Ready For Electric Environment In Montreal

Few venues or cities boast the hockey atmosphere and tradition of the Bell Centre in Montreal. Players can't always pinpoint the environment's singularity, often landing on a variation of "there's just something about it," but appreciate the surround-sound feeling that the arena and fans provide.

"It's just an older building, it's loud, it's constructed differently, really steep stands, old organ music …honestly, I don't know what it is," said Devante Smith-Pelly, who played a season and a half for the Canadiens. "Organic, maybe, is the word. But I love playing in that rink."

"I know, from playing World Juniors there, that it's a fun place to play," said Madison Bowey, who will play in Brooks Orpik's absence. It will mark Bowey's first NHL game in Montreal, a place he knows well from his days in the World Juniors.
"It's pretty upright - horizontal - so it feels like the crowds on top of you and you can really hear and feed off the momentum," Bowey said of the Bell Centre. "The games I've played there have been pretty successful, so I guess that's something you can feed and build off. At this point in my career I'm just happy to play wherever I can, in any game and any situation. So I'm champing at the bit to get there and play that game."
As he exited the locker room Tuesday, Alex Ovechkin casually stated that Montreal was his "favorite city to play in." In his case, success accompanies that admiration.

Ovechkin's played some of his best hockey against the Canadiens. He's totaled 49 points (22g, 22a) in 45 career games against Montreal. His 0.60 goals per game against the Canadiens is the highest per game total among active players with at least 20 career games and the 12th highest all-time.
Goalie Braden Holtby has also excelled against the Habs. He's 11-1-2 in his career against them, with a 1.57 goals against average, a .944 save percentage and two shutouts, his lowest goals against average and his highest save percentage against any opponent. In the Bell Centre, Holtby's gone 8-0-1, recording a 1.43 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.
But while Holtby noted Montreal's electric atmosphere and passion for hockey - "You're always on the big stage when you're there," he said - he doesn't attribute that success to anything more than routine hockey and strong performances from his teammates.
"I think there were a few years in there where we played really well as a team against them," Holtby said. "We just matched up well. But that's all history. They've changed a lot in their game coming into this year - a little different dynamic. Be it better or worse, we won't really know until we play them.
"We just have to do a good scout on them, find out what their strengths and weaknesses are, and find a way to have success again."

Montreal enters the game with a 6-3-2 record and a 4-2-0 record at home. For the Capitals, who are 5-3-2, Thursday's game starts a more rhythmic stretch in November. Washington plays every other night from now until Nov. 13, with two back-to-back turnarounds and just one three-day break this month.
After an unbalanced schedule to start the year - two back-to-backs weaved into long stretches of practice - coach Todd Reirden said the team is looking forward to some consistency and a chance to get into a routine.
"I'm hoping so," Reirden said. "Going to Montreal, against a team that's playing really well, will be a good challenge. Then we have a home stretch against some good teams, then some Metro teams next week.
"Our schedule, it is what it is, and you have to manufacture the best way to get your group ready. [But] I think they like every-other-day set up. That's where we've had the most success in the past and we look forward to going into November in that regard."