Rock the Red Revival: The Capitals Advance to Round Two

The Washington Capitals are heading to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since their 2018 championship run after a dominant 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5. Powered by a vintage Alex Ovechkin power-play goal — his fourth of the postseason and 76th of his playoff career — and strong contributions from Jakob Chychrun, Tom Wilson, and Dylan Strome, the Caps took control early and never looked back. Special teams were the difference, with the power play going 2-for-3 and the penalty kill perfect. Logan Thompson continued to shine in net, stopping 28 shots and showing poise under pressure, while Washington’s defense and physical play helped neutralize Montreal’s attack and keep momentum firmly on their side. In addition to the star performances, key depth players stepped up as well. Logan Thompson has quietly become the team’s backbone in net, delivering clutch saves and bringing stability and confidence to the crease throughout the series. Meanwhile, the return of Aliaksei Protas gave the Caps a needed boost in the bottom six. Despite not scoring, Protas played smart, physical hockey, contributing on the penalty kill and creating space at even strength. With all four lines rolling, Washington now prepares to face the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2 — a matchup where depth, discipline, and goaltending will be crucial. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. Wonderful Pistachios Get snackin' and get crackin' with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins! Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k Did you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required. Upwork Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. With Upwork, you can find specialized freelancers in marketing, development, design, and more—experts ready to help you take your business to the next level. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER : 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.