GDT Round #1: Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game #1 - Montréal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals - Monday, August 21st @ 7PM EST

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Well boys and girls, after a great run during the regular season, the team got what it deserved and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Habs’ reward? The Washington Capitals. I am currently traveling overseas in Europe, but wanted to get this game thread going and build the excitement towards tomorrow’s clash with Ovechkin and company.

 

Without further ado…

 

Montreal’s first round matchup:

 

Montréal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals - Game #1 Round #1 - Monday, April 21st @ 7PM EST - Capital One Arena

 

 

Montreal Canadiens Lineup

 

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovksý

Laine - Newhook - Demidov

Anderson - Dvorak - Gallagher

Heineman - Evans - Armia

 

Matheson - Carrier

Guhle - Hutson

Struble - Savard

 

Montembeault

Dobeš

 

 

Washington Capitals Lineup

 

Ovechkin - Strome - Beauvillier

McMichael - Dubois - Wilson

Mangiapane - Eller - Leonard

Duhaime - Dowd - Raddysh

 

Chychrun - Carlson

Sandin - Roy

Alexeyev - Van Riemsdyk

 

Thompson

Lindgren

 

Storyline / Series Preview

 

The Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals are set to face-off in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 

One cannot think of this matchup without remembering the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs where the 8th seeded Habs took on the 1st seed and league winners Capitals in the first round, having gone on to defeat the favourites in 7 games, despite having trailed the series 3-1. Washington was a ferocious force at the time, and were probably one of the most offensive heavy and talented teams the Habs have faced in a playoff series in quite some time. While one cannot win without a team in the sport, it is safe to say that goaltender Jaroslav Halak had some miraculous moments in that series and having been compared to a stop sign at the time, he was stopping (or “arrêt-ing”)almost everything that came his way.

 

 

The Washington Capitals have been a solid team for some time, if only in large part to the reality that they have had the greatest goal scorer of all time on their team. Despite not having been predicted to do so, they have had a great season, having been in part inspired by Ovechkin and his race to catch Gretzky for the all time goal scoring record. 
 

While Ovechkin has indeed enjoyed a remarkable year, certain players on the Habs have decided to pay no respect for the Russian legend. Laine, who is another talented and minimally comparable player to Ovechkin has suggested that he couldn’t care less about facing the Capitals’ forward. Demidov has taken things one step further, albeit likely in a joking manner, and has stated that he likes Malkin better. 
 

 

With that said, since their Stanley Cup win in 2018, Washington has not enjoyed any success in the second season. From that year onward, they have failed to qualify for the playoffs once, and have lost in the first round their other 6 attempts. While Ovechkin is clearly a great player, he cannot do everything himself and while Washington does have a lineup sprinkled with good players throughout, there are some holes to be exploited within their roster, and the opportunity is there for the taking for the Habs. Will the addition of players like Pierre-Luc Dubois help the Capitals get over their recent playoff hump? Or will the Habs play spoilers once again and serve the Washington Capitals with a heavy dose of a repeated groundhogs day?

 

 

Montreal, on the other hand has failed to qualify for the playoffs since their Stanley Cup Final run in 2020-2021. Key players such as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and even Jake Evans, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher are back in the playoffs for the first time since that great experience. It is certain that they will be chomping at the bit with genuine excitement for the opportunity that lays ahead of them. The Habs’ best players will have to be their best players in order to have a chance in the series, but our depth can also play a role in having success, as it has all season. 
 

Along with our veterans who have been to the dance before, an interesting storyline heading into the series are the young guns who have made their mark this year, as well as a few who are just getting started at the perfect time. While Lane Hutson has been other worldly this season and certainly deserves the Calder trophy, newcomers Ivan Demidov and Ryan Leonard will be looking to make their first truly important marks in the league. It will be interesting to follow their respective games throughout the series and playoffs as a whole.

 

 

While we mentioned Lane Hutson, let’s not forget which team drafted his brother, Cole Hutson. While he will not be in the lineup, Lane will be looking to prevent his brother from having any bragging rights even before he has played an NHL game. 
 

While there is so much to discuss, we’re going to keep the first game thread of the Stanley Cup Playoffs short and simple and let the players do most of the talking with their play on the ice. I hope everyone has a great time enjoying the series, cheering on our Habs and let’s hope for the best. It’s an exciting time to be a Habs fan.

 

Go Habs Go!!!

 

Series Game Dates

 

Monday April 21 - 7 pm

Wednesday April 23 - 7 pm

Friday April 25 - 7 pm

Sunday April 27 - 6:30 pm

Wednesday April 30 - (TBD)

Friday May 2 - (TBD)

Sunday May 4 - (TBD)

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

 

Even O’Neill the leaf homer asshat knows 

[Butterface]

Canada abolished capital punishment in 1976, but the Habs will be reinstating it !!

 

 

[TurdBurglar]

6 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

 

Even O’Neill the leaf homer asshat knows 

 

Demidov is a wildcard.  I doubt Montreal are going to depend on him, but could surprise everyone.  It's a good wildcard to have.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, TurdBurglar said:

 

Demidov is a wildcard.  I doubt Montreal are going to depend on him, but could surprise everyone.  It's a good wildcard to have.

 

I think Demidov has to play, Habs problem has been secondary scoring. You can play him more when you are behind and less when protecting a lead. 

[Butterface]

3 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I think Demidov has to play, Habs problem has been secondary scoring. You can play him more when you are behind and less when protecting a lead. 

We can’t beat the Caps over a seven game series without Demidov being a big help in the process. We need all lines doing their part. This will be a team effort or we’re doomed. I doubt we can match their physicality. We will need to slow their top six down and have our bottom 6 massively outperform their bottom 6. We absolutely can’t take penalties. 

 

We need full value Monty. 

[TurdBurglar]

3 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I think Demidov has to play, Habs problem has been secondary scoring. You can play him more when you are behind and less when protecting a lead. 

Absolutely he has to play, by wildcard I didn't mean black ace.  He will play, just the expectation of what they will get out of him will be low with 2 NHL games under his belt.  Even when Caufield came into the league during the 2021 cup run, hopes were high, but actual expectations were low.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

2 hours ago, Butterface said:

We can’t beat the Caps over a seven game series without Demidov being a big help in the process. We need all lines doing their part. This will be a team effort or we’re doomed. I doubt we can match their physicality. We will need to slow their top six down and have our bottom 6 massively outperform their bottom 6. We absolutely can’t take penalties. 

 

We need full value Monty. 

 

 

Montembault playing backup 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Suzuki line is going to receive the toughest opponents and that is hopefully an opportunity for Laine, Demidov to do some damage. 
 

Caps are going to struggle with Armia, Heineman, Evans and we need Anderson to make a difference in the series. 

[Butterface]

51 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

 

 

Montembault playing backup 

I don’t think Carey will be in full equipment for a competitive game again. I have friends that have been goalies (amateur) for a long time and have arthritic knees. Carey I hope wants to live a normal life where he can walk up stairs.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

31 minutes ago, Butterface said:

I don’t think Carey will be in full equipment for a competitive game again. I have friends that have been goalies (amateur) for a long time and have arthritic knees. Carey I hope wants to live a normal life where he can walk up stairs.

Yeah there is 0 chance that he will play

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Yeah there is 0 chance that he will play

 

It says May 7,2021 below that picture. Is it recent? 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

5 hours ago, TurdBurglar said:

Absolutely he has to play, by wildcard I didn't mean black ace.  

 

Yes, I misinterpreted your wording. He needs to play. We all want him to play. 

 

Win or lose against Washington, he and Hutson will be fun to watch for a long time. A good time to be a Habs fan, we have been patient. 

[Butterface]

1 hour ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

It says May 7,2021 below that picture. Is it recent? 

no… I think PMK was joking with an old tweet….

[Butterface]

Tonight we can’t get the half Monty…..

 

We need…..

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

6 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

It says May 7,2021 below that picture. Is it recent? 

 

4 hours ago, Butterface said:

no… I think PMK was joking with an old tweet….

Yes it was just a joke that was starting to float around

[Prime Minister Koivu]

89 points for Suzuki is impressive. Maybe he can hit 100 next season

 

 

[GHT120]

 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Fantastic GDT @xXx..CK..xXx 👍

 

Suzuki is ready. He’s been to the Finals, and he was a major contributor in that run. I can’t recall another Habs FW I’ve had so much faith in since peak Kirk Muller was destroying opponents game in game out.

 

On the other hand, the hole at #2C is going to be a huge problem over the series.

 

Hutson will be a major target for physical punishment. He is in the danger zone. Huge learning moment for him.

 

We’re in tough, but the Caps have looked dodgy lately and apparently have over-performed this season, statistically. IF we are ready to compete every shift and every puck-battle, and IF the Caps are taking us lightly, we have a chance.

[alfredoh2009]

I think the series is up for grabs depending on which goalie is hot and special teams.

5-on-5 , I like the Habs chances

[illWill]

I don't have any stats to back this up at all, but I think Washington might be one of the worst 1st seeds that I can remember. They seem to be sort of slapped together with spare parts that nobody wanted and have far exceeded expectations, possibly from a combination of chasing the goal record and hot goaltending. They do have some heavy forwards that can cause some chaos, but I don't believe they are a powerhouse by any means. 

 

Habs in 6 

 

 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

7 minutes ago, illWill said:

I don't have any stats to back this up at all, but I think Washington might be one of the worst 1st seeds that I can remember. They seem to be sort of slapped together with spare parts that nobody wanted and have far exceeded expectations, possibly from a combination of chasing the goal record and hot goaltending. They do have some heavy forwards that can cause some chaos, but I don't believe they are a powerhouse by any means. 

 

Habs in 6 

 

 

 

 I don't disagree. For me Washington was the biggest surprise this year, didn't see this coming. It seemed like one of those years where everything went right for them.  BUT the playoffs are a different animal. All the pressure is on Washington and if the Habs win the 1st game then the pressure will intensify.  Habs have a very legitimate shot here. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

9 minutes ago, illWill said:

I don't have any stats to back this up at all, but I think Washington might be one of the worst 1st seeds that I can remember. They seem to be sort of slapped together with spare parts that nobody wanted and have far exceeded expectations, possibly from a combination of chasing the goal record and hot goaltending. They do have some heavy forwards that can cause some chaos, but I don't believe they are a powerhouse by any means. 

 

Habs in 6 

 

 

Washington seemed to kind of slump and exhale after Ovechkin broke the record - as if their mission was accomplished so I agree there is opportunity here. 
 

I think it comes down to how well Washington can contain the Suzuki line and if the Habs can get some scoring from the Newhook line

[DON]

Be very cool if Habs win, but cant see any good reason why anyone would pic them to upset.

Caps in 5 seems about right.

 

HabsWorld Predicts: 2025 Playoffs – Canadiens vs Capitals – HabsWorld.net

 

[tomh009]

There are many variables. Capitals missing Protas. Will Thompson play, and if he does, how will he match up to Montembeault? What will be the impact of Demidov? Can the Habs stay out of the penalty box? Which Slafkovsky will show up for this series? Will the Washington giants (Ovechkin, Protas and Wilson) wreak havoc on the Habs or will the Canadiens be able to use their quickness to their advantage?

 

The Habs started the season with something like a 1% chance to make the playoffs. Their chances of winning this series are surely significantly higher than that.