MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens took full advantage of the intense atmosphere of the Bell Centre and a newfound sense of urgency to hit back in their first-round series against the Washington Capitals with a 6-3 win Friday night and reduce their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 2-1.
In a wild game that featured a brawl that spilled into the Capitals bench at the end of the second period and both starting goalies leaving the game, it marked a long-awaited return of playoff hockey to a full Bell Centre.
Advertisement
The game was everything playoff hockey should, full of drama, violence and three game-tying goals before Christian Dvorak finally gave the Canadiens the lead for good at 4:17 of the third period when his centering pass banked off Brandon Duhaime’s stick and behind Capitals goalie Logan Thompson.
The Capitals were a little bit better than the Canadiens in the two games in Washington, but the Canadiens made a statement in Game 3, pumping in six goals and generally proving that they were right to feel confident heading home.
Sam Montembeault, Logan Thompson injured
At the first TV timeout of the second period, Montembeault went to the bench and appeared to say something to the Canadiens’ training staff.
Montreal backup goaltender Jakub Dobeš was seen starting to stretch in the hallway leading to the Canadiens’ dressing room, but Montembeault remained in the game. At the next TV timeout, after Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki had scored on the power play for Montreal to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead and Washington’s Jakob Chychrun replied to tie it, Monetembeault went to the bench, whispered something to Dobeš as he walked by him, and headed to the dressing room.
His night was finished.
In the third period, just as the Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovský was putting a puck behind him to make it 5-3 Canadiens, Thompson was run over in his crease by teammate Dylan Strome. He stayed down for a few minutes, and as Thompson got up to head to the Capitals’ dressing room, he stumbled and appeared dazed before his teammates propped him up.
Logan Thompson leaves the game in pain following the Canadiens fifth goal of the night pic.twitter.com/Qi6GvoJkLl
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 26, 2025
Charlie Lindgren came in to finish the game.
The showdown between Montembeault and Thompson was the biggest storyline of the first two games of this series. Now, it could be a showdown between Dobeš and Lindgren.
Major brawl spills into bench
The most memorable moment in a game full of them, though, might’ve been the second-period brawl.
Advertisement
Washington’s Tom Wilson and Montreal’s Josh Anderson were the principle characters, which should come as no surprise to anyone who’s followed their careers or this series specifically. They’d been circling each other for days. Same goes for other players on both teams. This was bound to happen, though maybe not in such dramatic fashion. The rest of the series just got even more interesting.
Wilson was also late returning to the bench to serve his 10-minute misconduct, perhaps to get his forehead cut sewn up in the locker room.
Rough outing for Duhaime
Capitals winger Brandon Duhaime had himself a brutal night. First, he took two penalties, including a particularly ill-advised chicken wing on David Savard at 8:33 of the second period. Suzuki scored three seconds off the faceoff to put Montreal up 2-1.
That wasn’t the worst of it, though. At 4:17 of the third period, in a 3-3 game and momentum swinging back to Washington in the wake of Alex Ovechkin’s tying goal less than two minutes earlier, Duhaime scored an own goal, redirecting a shot from Dvorak past Capitals goalie Thompson.
Duhaime has added plenty to the Capitals lineup. He’s a staple on a fourth line that sees major minutes — the definition of an “energy guy,” a player who literally chews up lineup sheets in the locker room ahead of games to psyche up teammates and make them laugh. On Friday night, though, he played an outsized role in a chaotic loss.
Bell Centre crowd lives up to the hype
For a variety of reasons, eight years passed between playoff games for the Bell Centre. The NHL was worse for it — Montreal’s atmosphere, cliche as it is to say, is unlike any in the sport. Friday night was a welcome return to form.
Fans were engaged from the jump; in pregame, a quarter-full arena watching players idly shoot pucks sounded more like a regular-season crowd celebrating a goal. The Canadiens also brought back the “pass the torch” pregame ceremony, which features “fire” projected onto the ice. For that, the decibel level in the press box hit 110 — roughly the level of a jackhammer. After Suzuki’s second-period goal, which put the Canadiens up 2-1, fans dialed it up to 113.
Advertisement
Of course, there was plenty more to cheer (and boo) throughout the evening. It’s nice to know we’ll get at least one more of these.
Canadiens start on time for the first time
The first period has been optional for the Canadiens in this series.
Until now.
The Canadiens, juiced by the reception from their fans and the desperation of being down 0-2 in the series, came out flying in the first. They got the first three shots on goal and were hitting everything that moved.
And then the Capitals got a shot on goal. And they scored.
The crowd immediately began chanting “Go Habs Go!” and, well, the Canadiens kept going. They finished the period ahead 15-7 in shots on goal, 24-9 in five-on-five shot attempts and with a whole lot of momentum.
But it was still just 1-1 on the scoreboard, and that was only thanks to a long-distance goal from defenceman Alexandre Carrier with 53 seconds left in the period.
(Photo of Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovský and Ivan Demidov: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
No edge rushers for Lions on NFL Draft Day 2 as Brad Holmes sticks to his plan
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions war room were spotted wearing hoodies that read “HWS” — height, weight, speed — crossed out. The Lions typically coordinate their apparel during draft weekend. They’ve worn “positional villain” hoodies. They’ve collectively worn Dan Campbell jerseys, perhaps an ode to drafting Dan Campbell guys. So when Holmes emerged Friday at the end of night two, he explained the latest draft-related message.Advertisement“Height, weight, speed — it is the opposite of film evaluation, and we’re all about film evaluation,” Holmes said. “That’s the hard part of scouting. Height, weight, speed is easy. Stats are easy. A position listed is easy. But film evaluation is hard to figure out.”The Lions believe in film. They believe it doesn’t lie. The film told them that Georgia guard Tate Ratledge and Arkansas wide reciever Isaac TeSlaa […]
With Game 3 win, Devils show resolve that could benefit them long beyond the playoffs
NEWARK, N.J. — Friday night’s double-overtime victory doesn’t mean the New Jersey Devils will win this series. It doesn’t even mean they’ll reach Game 6. They are still the heavy underdogs and trailing 2-1 against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is healthier and has more recent playoff success. Not many people would bat an eye if Carolina won the next two games and sent the Devils home for the summer.AdvertisementBut that doesn’t change the importance of New Jersey’s Game 3 win. It’s the type of game that will stick with players on the roster, from overtime hero Simon Nemec — a healthy scratch earlier this series — to Jonas Siegenthaler, who played his first game since February, to young players like Paul Cotter and Cody Glass, who took their first-ever playoff overtime shifts.It’s the type of win that builds the […]
Erst Mähne, jetzt Glatze! – Erling Haaland mit komplett neuem Look
Nanu, was ist denn da passiert?Manchester City-Star Erling Haaland (24) überrascht seine Fans mit einem ganz neuen Look. Während seiner Verletzungspause teilt er ein Bild auf Snapchat, auf dem seine langen blonden Haare nicht zu sehen sind. Stattdessen zeigt sich der Norweger plötzlich mit einer Glatze.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Der Torjäger hat seit seiner Knöchelverletzung, die er sich beim FA-Cup-Viertelfinalsieg gegen Bournemouth Ende März zugezogen hat, nicht mehr gespielt. Nun teilt Haaland Einblicke in seine Genesung.Auf dem Trainingsgelände der Skyblues gibt er seinen Anhängern Einblicke in verschiedene Fitnessstudio-Sitzungen, die Thermotherapie oder die physiotherapeutischen Behandlungen. Auch auf den Videos zu sehen sind Nathan Aké (30), Kevin de Bruyne (33) und Oscar Bobb (21). In diesen Videos zeigt er dann auch die Glatze.Aber Haaland löst das Rätsel um seine neue Frisur schnell auf ...Der 24-Jährige verrät, dass er einen Haarentfernungsfilter bei Snapchat benutzt hat […]
Hall four strokes off lead as Korda makes the cut at Chevron Championship
England's Georgia Hall is just four strokes off the lead while Nelly Korda moved inside the cut after two rounds of the Chevron Championship.Hall followed her opening 69 with a 72 to sit four strokes off the lead, but Charley Hull dropped to four-over par, one behind Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh. The cut is projected to come at two-over with nine players still to finish their second rounds after thick fog delayed the start of play. Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable […]
Eagles see Andrew Mukuba as a physical, disciplined safety; stockpiled Day 3 picks with trades
PHILADELPHIA — Howie Roseman strode into the auditorium with a grin, with a quip prepared for the bleary-eyed reporters who stuck around the NovaCare Complex into the wee hours of the NFL Draft’s second night only for the Philadelphia Eagles general manager to trade out of the third round.“Rest up for next year, Friday night, because we are working next year on Friday night,” Roseman said.AdvertisementIndeed, Day 2 in 2026 is scheduled to be a marathon. The Eagles have a second round pick and three other selections in the third round. They’ve never had more than three in a given draft since Roseman was first named general manager in 2010. Next year promises to offer more flare than Friday night did. The Eagles spent the No. 64 pick on Texas safety Andrew Mukuba, then used Nos. 96 and 134 within a series […]
Broncos trio of Day 2 moves ‘paid off’ after landing offensive pieces RJ Harvey, Pat Bryant
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In the thick of the NFL Draft chaos Friday night, as phones buzzed in the Denver Broncos’ war room, general manager George Paton ordered a pause on the movement for a brief, yet urgent news announcement.“I just want to congratulate Sean (Payton),” the GM said, “on his first trade back since 2006.”AdvertisementPaton last year said the Broncos were preparing a cake when the coach almost, but not quite, triggered a move back on Day 2 of the draft. On Friday, he joked that a trophy for Payton, whose draft DNA typically moves him up the board instead of down it, was on the way after the Broncos moved back twice in the second round — from No. 51 to 57; then from 57 to 60.“It certainly paid off,” Payton said.The Broncos viewed those moves as critical framework […]
Related
No edge rushers for Lions on NFL Draft Day 2 as Brad Holmes sticks to his plan
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions war room were spotted wearing hoodies that read “HWS” — height, weight, speed — crossed out. The Lions typically coordinate their apparel during draft weekend. They’ve worn “positional villain” hoodies. They’ve collectively worn Dan Campbell jerseys, perhaps an ode to drafting Dan Campbell guys. So when Holmes emerged Friday at the end of night two, he explained the latest draft-related message.Advertisement“Height, weight, speed — it is the opposite of film evaluation, and we’re all about film evaluation,” Holmes said. “That’s the hard part of scouting. Height, weight, speed is easy. Stats are easy. A position listed is easy. But film evaluation is hard to figure out.”The Lions believe in film. They believe it doesn’t lie. The film told them that Georgia guard Tate Ratledge and Arkansas wide reciever Isaac TeSlaa […]
With Game 3 win, Devils show resolve that could benefit them long beyond the playoffs
NEWARK, N.J. — Friday night’s double-overtime victory doesn’t mean the New Jersey Devils will win this series. It doesn’t even mean they’ll reach Game 6. They are still the heavy underdogs and trailing 2-1 against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is healthier and has more recent playoff success. Not many people would bat an eye if Carolina won the next two games and sent the Devils home for the summer.AdvertisementBut that doesn’t change the importance of New Jersey’s Game 3 win. It’s the type of game that will stick with players on the roster, from overtime hero Simon Nemec — a healthy scratch earlier this series — to Jonas Siegenthaler, who played his first game since February, to young players like Paul Cotter and Cody Glass, who took their first-ever playoff overtime shifts.It’s the type of win that builds the […]
Erst Mähne, jetzt Glatze! – Erling Haaland mit komplett neuem Look
Nanu, was ist denn da passiert?Manchester City-Star Erling Haaland (24) überrascht seine Fans mit einem ganz neuen Look. Während seiner Verletzungspause teilt er ein Bild auf Snapchat, auf dem seine langen blonden Haare nicht zu sehen sind. Stattdessen zeigt sich der Norweger plötzlich mit einer Glatze.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Der Torjäger hat seit seiner Knöchelverletzung, die er sich beim FA-Cup-Viertelfinalsieg gegen Bournemouth Ende März zugezogen hat, nicht mehr gespielt. Nun teilt Haaland Einblicke in seine Genesung.Auf dem Trainingsgelände der Skyblues gibt er seinen Anhängern Einblicke in verschiedene Fitnessstudio-Sitzungen, die Thermotherapie oder die physiotherapeutischen Behandlungen. Auch auf den Videos zu sehen sind Nathan Aké (30), Kevin de Bruyne (33) und Oscar Bobb (21). In diesen Videos zeigt er dann auch die Glatze.Aber Haaland löst das Rätsel um seine neue Frisur schnell auf ...Der 24-Jährige verrät, dass er einen Haarentfernungsfilter bei Snapchat benutzt hat […]
Hall four strokes off lead as Korda makes the cut at Chevron Championship
England's Georgia Hall is just four strokes off the lead while Nelly Korda moved inside the cut after two rounds of the Chevron Championship.Hall followed her opening 69 with a 72 to sit four strokes off the lead, but Charley Hull dropped to four-over par, one behind Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh. The cut is projected to come at two-over with nine players still to finish their second rounds after thick fog delayed the start of play. Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable […]
Eagles see Andrew Mukuba as a physical, disciplined safety; stockpiled Day 3 picks with trades
PHILADELPHIA — Howie Roseman strode into the auditorium with a grin, with a quip prepared for the bleary-eyed reporters who stuck around the NovaCare Complex into the wee hours of the NFL Draft’s second night only for the Philadelphia Eagles general manager to trade out of the third round.“Rest up for next year, Friday night, because we are working next year on Friday night,” Roseman said.AdvertisementIndeed, Day 2 in 2026 is scheduled to be a marathon. The Eagles have a second round pick and three other selections in the third round. They’ve never had more than three in a given draft since Roseman was first named general manager in 2010. Next year promises to offer more flare than Friday night did. The Eagles spent the No. 64 pick on Texas safety Andrew Mukuba, then used Nos. 96 and 134 within a series […]
Broncos trio of Day 2 moves ‘paid off’ after landing offensive pieces RJ Harvey, Pat Bryant
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In the thick of the NFL Draft chaos Friday night, as phones buzzed in the Denver Broncos’ war room, general manager George Paton ordered a pause on the movement for a brief, yet urgent news announcement.“I just want to congratulate Sean (Payton),” the GM said, “on his first trade back since 2006.”AdvertisementPaton last year said the Broncos were preparing a cake when the coach almost, but not quite, triggered a move back on Day 2 of the draft. On Friday, he joked that a trophy for Payton, whose draft DNA typically moves him up the board instead of down it, was on the way after the Broncos moved back twice in the second round — from No. 51 to 57; then from 57 to 60.“It certainly paid off,” Payton said.The Broncos viewed those moves as critical framework […]
Be the first to leave a comment