Alex Ovechkin netted his first playoff overtime goal, clinching a 3-2 victory for the Washington Capitals over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of their first-round series. This thrilling event unfolded on Monday night, providing a dramatic start to the playoffs for the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded team.
Ovechkin, who recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most goals in NHL history just 15 days prior, scored his second goal of the game 3:26 into overtime. This achievement allowed the Capitals to secure a win after they had squandered a two-goal lead in the third period. Throughout much of the game, Washington dominated physically, overpowering the smaller and less experienced Canadiens with a series of significant hits.
The game, however, was far from simple. Pierre-Luc Dubois’ penalty enabled Cole Caufield to initiate Montreal’s comeback with 9:28 remaining in regulation. The Capitals struggled to maintain their lead, and a defensive lapse allowed Nick Suzuki to level the score with 4:15 to go. Suzuki scored into an open net after Capitals’ goaltender Logan Thompson was inadvertently taken out of position by his own teammate, Connor McMichael, during a defensive mix-up.
Ovechkin’s overtime goal ultimately handed Washington a crucial 1-0 series lead, marking their first playoff victory since May 7, 2022. In regulation, Anthony Beauvillier contributed another goal, while Thompson delivered a strong performance with 33 saves in his return to NHL action following an injury he sustained on April 2.
At the opposite end, Sam Montembeault stood out as Montreal’s star player, stopping 29 of 31 shots during his Stanley Cup playoff debut. The series continues with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday night in Washington, after which it will move to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday.