Breaking News: Montreal Canadiens, Defying Odds, Face Washington Capitals in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Quarterfinals; Habs Seek Upset Against League’s Top Team

247Sports.New: Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals – Eastern Conference QFs Preview

Game 1: Montreal Canadiens (WC2) @ Washington Capitals (M1)

📅 When: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
📺 Where: Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.
📊 How to Watch:

• In Canada: Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French)
• In the Capitals region: Monumental Sports Network
• Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+

The Unlikely Cinderella Story

The Montreal Canadiens, once written off as a bottom-dweller, have defied expectations. Six months after setting their sights on the playoffs, they find themselves in the post-season’s first round, facing the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the Washington Capitals.

💭 "It’s a bonus experience for our young players," says Canadiens head coach, Martin St. Louis. "But they’ve earned the right to dream bigger now."

Montreal’s Cinderella Run

• Upset Potential: The Habs have beaten 23 of the 31 teams they faced this season, including the Capitals.
• Youth Movement: Montreal’s lineup has developed naturally, with the recent addition of last year’s fifth-overall pick, Ivan Demidov, providing an offensive boost.
• Inexperience, Not Weakness: Despite their lack of playoff experience, the Canadiens have few glaring weaknesses.

Capitals: The Complete Team

The Capitals, led by three-time Stanley Cup winner Alexander Ovechkin, have addressed their lineup depth to become the complete team they are today.

💭 "They’re a tough matchup for anyone," says Capitals head coach, Peter Laviolette. "But we’re ready for the challenge."

Projected Lineups

Montreal Canadiens

Forwards

• 13 Cole Caufield – #14 Nick Suzuki – #20 Juraj Slafkovský

• 17 Josh Anderson – #28 Christian Dvorak – #11 Brendan Gallagher

• 92 Patrik Laine – #15 Alex Newhook – #93 Ivan Demidov

• 51 Emil Heineman – #71 Jake Evans – #40 Joel Armia

Defence

• 21 Kaiden Guhle – #48 Lane Hutson

• 8 Mike Matheson – #45 Alexandre Carrier

• 47 Jayden Struble – #58 David Savard

Goaltenders

• Starter: #35 Samuel Montembeault
• Backup: #75 Jakub Dobeš

Scratches: Oliver Kapanen, Michael Pezzetta, Arber Xhekaj
Injured: Kirby Dach

Washington Capitals

Forwards

• 8 Alexander Ovechkin – #17 Dylan Strome – #72 Anthony Beauvillier

• 24 Connor McMichael – #80 Pierre-Luc Dubois – #43 Tom Wilson

• 88 Andrew Mangiapane – #20 Lars Eller – #9 Ryan Leonard

• 22 Brandon Duhaime – #26 Nic Dowd – #16 Taylor Raddysh

Defence

• 6 Jakob Chychrun – #74 John Carlson

• 38 Rasmus Sandin – #3 Matt Roy

• 27 Alexander Alexeyev – #57 Trevor van Riemsdyk

Goaltenders

• Starter: #48 Logan Thompson
• Backup: #79 Charlie Lindgren

Scratches: Ethen Frank, Dylan McIlrath
Injured: Martin Fehervary, Sonny Milano, T.J. Oshie, Aliaksei Protas

Did You Know?

🌟 The Canadiens are the first team since the 2014-15 Columbus Blue Jackets to make the playoffs after finishing in the bottom five the previous three seasons.

Pro Tip

💡 Keep an eye on Montreal’s power play. They’ve improved to 17th in the league this season, thanks in large part to the addition of Ivan Demidov.

FAQ

Q: Who are the favorites to win this series?
A: The Capitals are the favorites, given their experience and regular-season success. But the Canadiens have proven they can’t be counted out.

Q: Which player could decide this series?
A: For Montreal, it could be Cole Caufield or Ivan Demidov. For Washington, look to Alexander Ovechkin and John Carlson.

Call to Action

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