The Montreal Canadiens are back in D.C. to face the Washington Capitals in the first elimination game of this opening round series. The Habs will need to steal this one on the road in order to extend the series and take it back up north, but do they have it in them?
They battled in Game 1 to force overtime after being down 2-0 in the third, but eventually lost. Things didn’t get better in Game 2, after establishing a 1-0 lead, the Canadiens allowed three straight from the Caps in order for them to seal a 3-1 win, and a two game series lead. Then we headed to Canada, where the Habs were able to take Game 3.
Montreal peppered 40 shots on net with six finding the back of it, and held the Capitals to just three goals on 21 total shots. Washington took an early 1-0 lead but the hosts tied things up before the end of the period. Then it was the Habs who took a lead before letting the Capitals tie things up at two. Cole Caufield found one late in the 2nd period to take a one goal lead once again. Who other than Alex Ovechkin tied things up at three less than three minutes into the final period, but then the Canadiens took over. Montreal netted three unanswered in order to win, 6-3.
However, the Capitals didn’t go down fighting. They won Game 4 by a score of 5-2 after holding their hosts to just 18 shots on net following their 40 shot performance. Back at home tonight, I’ve got to imagine the Capitals want to end things here, and not have to get on a plane back to Canada.
Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals: Game Five
Montreal Canadians Cole Caufield celebrates scoring a goal.
Matchup Information – Canadiens vs Capitals
- Venue & Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.
- Date: Wednesday, April 30th, 2025
- Puck Drop: 7:00pm Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Betting Odds
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Puck Line
- Canadiens +1.5 (-158)
- Capitals -1.5 (+138)
Money Line
- Canadiens +157
- Capitals -176
Total
- Over 6 (-111)
- Under 6 (-105)
You can find this total at 6.5 at plus money on some books, and ultimately I am interpreting that as us hearing the goal horn plenty tonight. Like I mentioned, the last thing the Capitals want to do is play another game of this series. Letting Montreal win this would give them enough confidence to even the series back at home, and at that point they could ride momentum into Game 7.
Washington needs to handle business tonight, and I think they do exactly that.
Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals Best Bets
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals look to advance in the NHL Playoffs tonight
Canadiens vs Capitals Prediction: Capitals Win, Over 6
Best Bets: Capitals -1.5 (+138) BetOnline
Get it done, do it tonight, and leave no doubt. That’s what the Capitals need to do. Don’t let this young team think they can hang with you. After slipping up in Game 3, you came back and dominated in Game 4 on the road. Now go out and do the exact same thing on your home ice, in front of your home crowd, and move yourselves one step closer to the Stanley Cup.
The Canadiens only average 25 shots on goal per game. After putting up 35 in Game 1, the Caps turned on their defense and held them to just 26 in Game 2, including 24 blocked shots. Then again, after their 40 shot performance the first night at home, the Caps held them to just 18 on goal in Game 4, plus they blocked another 12 shots.
It’s also worth noting that Washington was 0/7 on the power play in two games in Montreal, while the Canadiens scored half of theirs on the man advantage, including both in Game 4. In fact, the Capitals are just 1/10 on PP opportunities this series after ranking 13th during the regular season. While the Canadiens are a Top 10 penalty kill team, tonight I think the Capitals leave no doubt in this series on their home ice.
Give me Washington by two and I don’t think we’ll need an empty netter.
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