The Montreal Canadiens surprised many by reaching the playoffs last year, a goal they believed they could achieve. However, once they got there, they faced a tougher, more intense level of competition that they weren’t fully prepared for. Now, nearly seven months later, the young team has an opportunity to seek revenge against the Washington Capitals and break a current four-game losing streak.
The Capitals, coming off a two-game winning streak in which they scored seven goals against the Edmonton Oilers, are fighting to make the playoffs. Currently out of contention, they trail the unexpected Pittsburgh Penguins by just two points for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Alexander Ovechkin, who set a blistering scoring pace last season, is on track for 29 goals this year—his lowest since the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. Despite this, Ovechkin, who scored in last night’s big win over the Canadiens and holds 70 points in 60 games against Montreal, will relish the chance to play against his old rivals.
Although Jakub Dobes ended the Canadiens’ winning streak against Columbus Monday, coach Martin St. Louis announced Samuel Montembeault will be in goal tonight. Montembeault started five regular season games against the Caps, while Dobes has a strong record in the limited encounters he had, including the only playoff win over Washington last year after Montembeault’s injury.
The Capitals are yet to name their starting goalie, but with Logan Thomson playing Wednesday night, Charlie Lindgren—formerly of the Canadiens—might get the nod. Lindgren holds a 3-1-0 record against his former team, with solid stats, while Thomson has played more games and holds the clear No. 1 spot in Washington.
Tonight marks the first of three match-ups this season between the two teams, with Washington and Montreal set to meet again in January and February. The Capitals have won six of the last ten games in this rivalry, outscoring the Canadiens 40-32.
Besides Ovechkin, several Capitals players have had success playing against Montreal, including John Carlson, Tom Wilson, and Dylan Strome. On the Canadiens’ side, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have impressive scoring rates against Washington, joined by stand-ins Brendan Gallagher and Mike Matheson.
In practice, St. Louis stuck with the new line combinations used against Columbus, featuring Zach Bolduc on the first line and July Slavkowski on the second. Fans can expect to see St. Louis’ revamped power play unit in action tonight.
While the Capitals dominated the Oilers, the Canadiens were engaged in their 44th annual blood drive at the Bell Center, where nearly 850 people donated blood and met players. This charitable event, started by the late Jean Béliveau in 1981, has saved over 116,000 lives, making the Bell Center a symbol of generosity and community spirit.
As fans prepare for puck drop at 7 p.m., they will hope the Canadiens bring the same energy on the ice as they did off it, aiming to turn their fortunes around against the Capitals. The game will be broadcast on RDS, TSN2, and MNMT.
Fan Take: This matchup is more than just a game; it’s about the Canadiens proving their growth and resilience after last season’s playoff heartbreak. For hockey fans, it underscores the fierce competition and ongoing rivalries that keep the sport thrilling and unpredictable.
