Just like that, we’ve said goodbye to another NHL regular season. It was, in many ways, an unforgettable season, from the 4 Nations Face-Off to Alex Ovechkin’s historic 895th goal. But now it’s time for the rollercoaster that is playoff hockey, and for the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens, there’s a lot to play for, besides, of course, the obvious prize of advancing to the next round and keeping their Cup hopes alive. For the Capitals, a deep playoff run represents the chance for Ovechkin to get even closer to Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record, including playoffs. And for the Canadiens, a first-round victory would mean keeping the flame of David Savard’s NHL career burning just a little longer.

Because if the Habs fall to the Capitals, it will signal the end of the line for Savard in the league. On X, hockey reporter for TVA Sports, Renaud Lavoie, shared the news. “David Savard just confirmed to reporters that he will retired at the end of the Montreal Canadiens playoff run. I can also add that he told the Habs front office about his intentions a few weeks ago.”

Although his decision was only just officially announced, the writing had been on the wall since the trade deadline. Because when the front office elected not to trade him, it was widely assumed that the move was made to ensure he ended his career in Habs colors. And during the Canadiens’ last regular season game against the Detroit Red Wings, which they won 4-1, Savard’s family was present on the bench, which was another sign. And then, of course, there was the news of a special hat he had custom-made for his wife, with hidden details commemorating his NHL career, such as initials of all the teams he’d played for (the Blue Jackets, Lightning, and Canadiens) and 14 Xs stitched on the rim to represent his 14 years in the league.

In July 2021, David Savard signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens, following a Stanley Cup win with the Tampa Bay Lightning that same year. Before that, Savard spent 10 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tasked with addressing the gap created by Shea Weber’s departure, Savard emerged as a reliable figure on the Canadiens’ defense. In the face of injuries and team challenges, he secured the Jacques Beauchamp-Molson Trophy in both 2023 and 2024, highlighting his impactful contributions to the team.

During the 2024-25 season, Savard achieved the significant milestone of playing in his 800th NHL game. As the Habs prepare to take on the Capitals in the first round, they have something extra to fight for: to make sure David Savard remains an NHLer come June. Nonetheless, even with Montreal’s impressive record of 7-1-2 in their last 10 regular-season games and the Capitals’ recent drop-off, it remains uncertain whether they can truly overcome Alex Ovechkin and co.

The Canadiens surged to the playoffs, but is their late-season momentum enough to counteract the Capitals?

The Montreal Canadiens have achieved an impressive turnaround in the 2024-25 NHL season, securing their first playoff spot since 2021. Following a last-place finish in the league during the 2021-22 season and two additional years of rebuilding, the Canadiens surprised many by clinching the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 40-31-11.

The playoff push gained momentum with a remarkable six-game winning streak spanning from March 30 to April 8, showcasing impressive contributions from captain Nick Suzuki, who tallied 89 points; rookie and Calder Trophy hopeful Lane Hutson, with 60 assists; and goaltender Sam Montembeault, who in his last eight starts, went 6-1-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .922 SV%.

But even Montreal’s upward trajectory, coupled with Washington’s 4-6-0 record in their last 10 games, hasn’t made them the favorites to take this round. But playoff hockey is a different beast, and the Canadiens have a special group of players, including the recent addition Ivan Demidov, who’s had an instant impact with a goal and an assist. With their average age of 25.95 years, they’ve made history as the youngest team ever to make the playoffs.

If the Capitals carry their leaky regular season defense into the playoffs, while their offensive firepower continues to malfunction, then the Habs are in with a real chance. Especially if they can use the home crowd advantage in Games 3 and 4 to swing series momentum in their favor. At the start of the season, the Habs looked nowhere near like a team who would make the playoffs. And now that they’ve defied all odds to make it, it would be foolish to count them out.

It’s a bit of a David vs. Goliath situation. But one thing’s for certain, and it’s that we’re in for an exciting and intriguing round of playoff hockey.