Title: Montreal Canadiens’ Young Guns Prepare to Face Veteran Capitals in Playoff Opener

Meta Description: The Montreal Canadiens, the NHL’s youngest team, looks to their coach’s playoff experiences and the potential of their inexperienced stars as they face the Washington Capitals in the first round.

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Article:

Montreal Canadiens’ Young Guns Prepare to Face Veteran Capitals in Playoff Opener

The Montreal Canadiens, the National Hockey League’s (NHL) youngest team, begin their playoff journey against the experienced Washington Capitals on Monday. Led by first-year coach and Hall-of-Fame winger Martin St. Louis, the Canadiens will rely on their inexperienced but talented roster to upset Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

St. Louis’ Wisdom Guides the Young Canadiens

“I was very excited,” St. Louis recalled about his first playoff games as a player. “It was against Washington, like (Jaromir) Jagr, (Sergei) Gonchar, and we lost our first two games, and I think I was too excited.”

I grew up watching the Canadiens in the playoffs… Then, in those first two games in Tampa Bay, up against legends like Jagr and Gonchar, the anticipation of the moment spiked my adrenaline and blurred my focus.

St. Louis, who scored 33 goals and 37 assists during that 2002-03 regular season, tallied only one assist in the first two playoff games. However, he calmed down and scored five goals with three assists in the subsequent four games to help the Lightning win the series.

Now, St. Louis hopes his players can learn from his experience and avoid the pitfalls of inexperience. “I truly believe you’ve got to be in control,” he said. “I feel like once you understand that, I think you just kind of play the game versus forcing the game because you’re up here emotionally.”

Demidov and Slafkovsky: The Key to Montreal’s Success

The Canadiens’ most inexperienced players – Klim Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky, Logan Mailloux, and Jordan Harris – will have to be difference-makers if they want to defeat the Capitals. Demidov, the youngest of the group with only two games of NHL experience, has already shown his potential with a goal and an assist in his first three shifts in the league.

Slafkovsky, the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has faced pressure early in his career, playing at the World Championships and Olympics as a 16-year-old. His best games with the Canadiens have been their most pressure-packed ones, and he’ll need to bring that same poise and productivity to Washington.

Guhle and Hutson: Quiet Confidence in the Defensemen

NHL veterans like Brendan Gallagher, Joel Armia, and Josh Anderson, along with Cup winners David Savard and Alex Newhook, will provide valuable experience and leadership to the young Canadiens. Meanwhile, defensemen Justin Barron and Kaprizovkot Cover will need to step up and play beyond their years to help the team succeed.

“You assume it’s going to be fast-paced, and the guys are going to be finishing hits; it’s playoff hockey, guys are desperate, and I’m sure it’ll be fun. I’m excited,” said Barron about his first NHL playoff experience.

générale de l’équipe après la pratique du+Chevaux morally, “He’s matured in that regard and will need to continue to gain consistency in playing to his strengths, but the playoffs afford him that opportunity.”

Pucky Laine: Confident and Ready to Turn it Up

Patrik Laine, who had just two goals and two points in his last 10 games, is confident that he can raise his game in the playoffs. “Regular season’s a different thing, but playoffs is a different kind of animal and always, always, always get fired up,” Laine said. “Playoffs are big games overall, and national team (games) or whatever has always kind of been the switch for me. So I’m just excited to turn it on, on Monday.”

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Did you know?

• The Montreal Canadiens are the youngest team in the NHL, with an average age of 24.8 years.
• Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals’ captain, leads the league in goals scored this season with 50.
• Martin St. Louis won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning and is a two-time NHL MVP.

Pro Tip: How to Watch the Canadiens-Capitals Series

To fully enjoy the Canadiens-Capitals playoff series, make sure to:

• Tune in to TSN3 or RDS for the games in Canada, or NBCSN/USA Network for viewers in the United States.
• Catch the pre- and post-game coverage for expert analysis and interviews.
• Follow along on social media using the hashtags #GoHabsGo and #ALLCAPS.

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Can the Montreal Canadiens Upset the Washington Capitals?

With their talented young roster and the wisdom of coach Martin St. Louis, the Montreal Canadiens have the potential to pull off an upset against the experienced Washington Capitals. While the Capitals are the favorites, the Canadiens’ inexperienced but skilled core could surprise fans and pundits alike in this first-round matchup.

What’s Next?

Game 1 of the Canadiens-Capitals series takes place on Monday, May 1, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM Eastern Time. Don’t miss the thrilling start to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs!

**Stay tuned to 247sports.news for more in-depth news expansion, analysis, and exclusive interviews throughout the playoffs.**

Write your insights and predictions for the Canadiens-Capitals series in the comments below, and share this article on social media to spread the excitement!