Canadiens vs Capitals: team predictions

It’s here: the Canadiens’ first-round series is upon us.

We’ve been setting the table for this series for days on this site, but here’s what our columnists are predicting for the first-round series between the Canadiens and Capitals.

Who will be right?

Maxime Truman: Capitals in 7

I think the Habs will be able to pull off no fewer than three wins. The Bell Centre could not be louder.

However, this young group has struggled to pick up a point at the end of the season, when it was needed to confirm their place in the playoffs. I think a 4th win will be almost impossible for this young group. But it’s all part of learning and gaining experience…

Marc-Olivier Cook: Canadian in 6

The Caps enter the playoffs with bad momentum. And the CH will take advantage of its recent success to create one of the big surprises in the first round of the playoffs.

Raphael Simard: Canadien in 7

I’m confident that the magic of 2010 will work again. Ivan Demidov is going to change everything.

How do you do it, Ivan

Images: @DLCoulisses / @Charles__Alexis pic.twitter.com/301U9Gn9Pk

– DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) April 13, 2025

Mathis Therrien: Canadian in 7

I think the guys are going to play without pressure like they’ve been doing most of the season, and that’s when they’ve performed best. They’ve been underestimated all season and they’ll be underestimated again.

The guys are going to play for David Savard and they’re going to stand up like never before, so I think they can surprise with Samuel Montembeault, who will be in great form, and Nick Suzuki, who is captain clutch.

Félix Forget: Canadian in 7

The Capitals are running out of gas and Ivan Demidov is going to inject some energy into the CH. He’ll be the Habs’ top scorer in this series.

I don’t think the Habs will be able to beat the Capitals if Demidov is quiet. Remember Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield against the Maple Leafs in 2021.

Habs captain Nick Suzuki after the 4 Nations break

– 15 goals
– 22 assists (6th in NHL)
– 37 points in 26 games (4th in NHL)
– 4 game-winning goals (T-3rd in NHL)
– 21:12 mins per game
– Got a point in 45% of Habs goals
– Reached a career-high 89 points
– Played a full… pic.twitter.com/wYBGVjG3gw

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 18, 2025

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Kevin Vallée: Capitals in 6

The Habs are out of juice. The guys squeezed what was left out of the bottom of the tank to qualify with 91 points, but the guys all have boo-boos (the infirmary is full) and the Capitals are really imposing.

Montreal got off to a bad start in the series, winning two in a row with the energy of despair, but losing out. Ivan Demidov will be dangerous, but will be slowed down by the context and his coach‘s caution.

Michaël Petit: Canadian in 6

The Habs will take advantage of the Bell Centre’s energy by picking up a win in Washington in Game 1, because the Capitals will be taking the CH lightly.

Juraj Slafkovsky will play like a true Brady Tkachuk and all the trios will contribute in one way or another.

Pablo Herrera : Canadian in 7

The Caps haven’t finished their season strong (8 losses in their last 12 games) and the ankle injury to big man Aliaksei Protas could – literally – hurt them badly in the playoffs. Their #1 goaltender Logan Thompson and reliable defenseman Martin Fehérváry also seem far from 100%, although we should see them against the CH.

More generally, one wonders about this team’s focus and motivation after Alex Ovechkin’s record. On the Flannel side, in theory, Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson are the two best players in this series.

With a little help and magic from Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine and Samuel Montembeault, the CH’s best players could well have the upper hand over the Caps’, although Strome, Dubois, Wilson and company will have to be wary.

Montreal is just one win behind Washington in the last 52 games. First and eighth place mean nothing here.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin today on Habs rookie Ivan Demidov :

“It’s gonna be an interesting match. Obviously he’s a talented guy. We’ll see.” pic.twitter.com/1wLr0pPovR

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 19, 2025

Jonathan Di Gregorio: Canadian in 6

The CH will take advantage of a few mentally and physically beneficial days of rest to get back to its 4 Nations break level, and will surprise the Caps, who seem to be lacking a bit of gas since Ovy broke his record.

Also: Ivan Demidov!

Charles-Alexis Brisebois: Capitals in 5

The Habs have been struggling to get off to a good start in recent weeks, so playing catch-up field hockey against a playoff powerhouse won’t be easy for the young Montreal team.

But even if I see the series ending in five, I don’t see the CH getting downgraded.