Alex Ovechkin gives Caps overtime win

The Canadiens are back in the playoffs.

For the first time since 2021, the CH played a game after the 82nd of the season.

Here are the line-ups for Game 1 of the series against the Washington Capitals.

Tonight’s lineup

Tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Ovh0PmhKZr

– x – Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) April 21, 2025

Capitals lines vs. Canadiens for Game 1:

Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
Mangiapane-Eller-Leonard
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

Chychrun-Carlson
Sandin-Roy
Alexeyev-TVR

Thompson#ALLCAPS

– Sammi Silber (@sammisilber) April 21, 2025

Who else but Alex Ovechkin to score the first goal of the series.

It wasn’t the most powerful shot in history, but A+ for accuracy.

WHO ELSE!?

Alexander Ovechkin strikes for Washington. 1-0 Caps.

(via @NHL) pic.twitter.com/yjoaAqBXKe

– BarDown (@BarDown) April 21, 2025

After two periods, the CH was not dominated.

Still, it was 2-0 to the home side. In the second, Anthony Beauvilier foiled Samuel Montembeault at the mouth.

Ovi gets the point shot through. The Big Russian is shooting BB’s tonight. Beauvillier could be a sneaky deadline pickup. Washington in full control. #ALLCAPS https://t.co/UXp5ydtQBy

– Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) April 22, 2025

Montreal’s power play has been in a bad way lately.

But in the third period, the first wave brought the team back into the game. Cole Caufield scored his fifth elimination goal.

Cole Caufield takes advantage of a good bounce to open the scoring for the #GoHabsGo.

It’s just a one-goal game now. pic.twitter.com/lPbg3Gs2tX

– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) April 22, 2025

And, with less than five minutes left in the game, Nick Suzuki brought everyone back to square one.

This team never gives up!

WE HAVE A MATCH THANKS TO SUZUKI! pic.twitter.com/0OlFywKmff

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 22, 2025

Off to overtime! That extra period would never have happened had it not been for Samuel Montembeault.

After 60 minutes of play, he stopped 28 of 30 shots.

In the fourth period, he could do nothing against Alex Ovechkin, who scored a second goal.

Final score: 3-2 Washington, leading the series 1-0.

The two teams will cross swords again on Wednesday in the nation’s capital.

Overtime

– Josh Anderson shakes Tom Wilson.

Josh Anderson gives his message to Tom Wilson pic.twitter.com/Jl3auj1qFt

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 22, 2025

– I didn’t know Chris Lee was working tonight.

Brendan Gallagher eats a cross check to the face pic.twitter.com/jlommWFxVc

– The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) April 21, 2025

– He should be in the lineup on Wednesday.

Xhekaj could you do like Dean Portman in Mighty Ducks pis show up with his record in the locker room between 2 and 3 and finish the game ..?

Arber Xhekaj, Hamilton ONT! #CH

– Max Lalonde (@MaxLalonde_) April 22, 2025

– It’s getting heavier, yes.

15 years of watching the Habs getting outmuscled & outhit by bigger, meaner, more physical opponents in the playoffs.

Once upon a time it was Chara & Lucic and the Bruins vs Tomas Plekanec & David Desharnais. Tonight it’s Tom Wilson & Alex Ovechkin and the Caps vs Cole Caufield..

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 22, 2025

– Ayoye.

Ovechkin takes it out on Caufield pic.twitter.com/xp2IMxwxaL

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 22, 2025

– Not bad, yes.

Ovechkin trucking Caufield pic.twitter.com/y7MLrkO3be

– Memesy (@chicletsmemes) April 22, 2025

– Things haven’t been going well for Mike Matheson lately…

Mike y’en arrache. .. https://t.co/WeDIPBZ1x7

– Max Lalonde (@MaxLalonde_) April 22, 2025

– P.K. knows how to revive the PP.

MTL power play has to improve. Here’s how#Habs pic.twitter.com/v8w7eFg5wy

– P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) April 22, 2025