Capitals dispatch Canadiens for 1st series win since 2018

The Washington Capitals eliminated the Montreal Canadiens with a 4-1 win in Game 5 on Wednesday to secure their first series victory since the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.

Tom Wilson chipped in with a power-play goal and an assist, while Dylan Strome added two helpers to bring his playoff total to nine points.

The victory also marked the Capitals' first time clinching on their home turf since 2015.

"It feels great, it feels awesome to do it on home ice," Wilson told Sportsnet's Shawn McKenzie postgame. "That was a heck of a battle. Some pretty crazy times throughout the series, a lot of fun. It just shows what a tight group we have. We're excited to get it done."

Ageless sniper Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring with a goal on the man advantage for his fourth tally of the series. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun found the back of the net just over two minutes later, and his marker stood as the game-winner.

Wilson marveled at Ovechkin after the game.

"He's doing it all right now," he said. "He's been our MVP all season, so far he's our MVP in the playoffs. Blocking shots, banging bodies, scoring goals. They don't make them like him anymore. We're lucky to have him."

Ovechkin made sure to praise Wilson right back. When asked to point to the turning point of the series, the veteran responded with six simple words.

"Game 4. Third period. Tom Wilson," Ovi said, per The Washington Post's Bailey Johnson.

His comments seemingly reference Wilson's thunderous hit on Habs defenseman Alexandre Carrier, which came right before Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime's 2-2 equalizer during Sunday's victory.

The Capitals held a 3-0 lead entering the final frame on Wednesday, but Emil Heineman got Montreal on the board in the early stages of the period. Duhaime ultimately restored the three-goal lead with an empty-netter.

Washington netminder Logan Thompson put forth another strong showing, allowing just one goal on 29 shots in the decisive victory.

At the other end of the ice, rookie netminder Jakub Dobes came up with a plethora of big stops for the Habs as part of a 24-save effort.

The first-round series was often feisty and physical, featuring a $25,000 fine for each team and a scuffle between Wilson and Josh Anderson that wound up in an empty bench.

"You know what you're gonna get out of them," Wilson said. "Once I was able to kind of focus and dial it in - I think that's why everybody loves the sport of hockey because there's guys on both sides of the puck that are willing to do whatever they have to for their team."

He added, "We knew that they were gonna play kinda cheap and try and get us off our game. It got crazy at times, but that's why hockey's so fun."

It was a remarkable campaign for the young Canadiens, who were in last place of the Eastern Conference on Dec. 1. This was Montreal's first playoff appearance since its run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery made sure to tip his cap to his scrappy opponents.

"To me, that wasn't a 4-1 series. ... They pushed us in every single one of those games," he said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

Washington will meet the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2. The Canes were the first team to advance this postseason after defeating the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 on Tuesday.

The Capitals split their regular-season series with Metropolitan Division rival Carolina and won the final meeting 5-4 in a shootout April 10.

Washington was swept out of the 2024 postseason by the New York Rangers.