The fans of the Washington Capitals are absolutely thrilled. What’s the reason behind that? The team has taken a vital 2-0 lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of their Stanley Cup Playoff series. In Game 1, Alex Ovechkin scored two goals, including his first playoff overtime goal, leading the Capitals to a 3-2 victory. In Game 2, viewers saw Connor McMichael net two goals, while Dylan Strome added another, propelling the Capitals to a 3-1 triumph. While the offense proved to be lethal, the defense was equally formidable!

The combination of these elements led to the Caps showcasing remarkable dominance over the Habs. Amidst the scrutiny surrounding the Canadiens, who are also the underdogs this season following their impressive run to the playoffs, a former Stanley Cup winner stepped up to defend Habs goalie Sam Montembeault.

On X, NHL Network shared Mike Johnson’s insights regarding the Habs goalie, emphasizing, “All you can ask from your goalies, especially in playoff games, especially on the road, give us a chance to win. And you know there’s going to be moments in a game, and for Montreal they’ve basically been the first and second period of both games, where you’re not going to be as good. The other team’s going to push the play, they’re going to get the chances, and you have to keep your team in it. Give them a chance. And through two games, [Sam] Montembeault has been the busier, the more taxed, but just as sharp with the two goaltenders.”

Johnson highlighted that in the realm of playoff hockey, the primary expectation from a goalie is to provide the team with an opportunity to secure victory, and Montembeault has accomplished just that. In both games, the Capitals took control early on, creating a notable number of high-danger opportunities. However, Montembeault remained focused under pressure, delivering key saves even while dealing with constant traffic in front of the net.

“There’s any question about Montembeault, who’s had a really nice regular season, but never really done in the playoffs either. He’s answered it the first couple games. He has been really rock solid, playing in his own end, lots of traffic in front of him, doing what he has to do to give his team a chance to win. They’ll need more of that, and then some, to get themselves back in the series, but Montembeault has not been an issue whatsoever. He’s been a strength for Montreal,” stated the former NHL star in support of the Habs goalie.

Johnson highlighted that while Montembeault may not have an extensive playoff history, he has stepped up when it matters, demonstrating composure, strategic positioning, and determination. What are his statistics? In a remarkable turn of events, this marks the first occasion in the goalie’s 206-game career that he is stepping onto the ice for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite Montreal’s challenges on both ends of the ice, their goaltending has proven to be a strong point, with Montembeault emerging as a reliable presence. But are you aware of the aggressive display of hockey that the Caps put on in their last two games?

The Washington Capitals are putting their full effort into the offense

Tom Gulitti covered the latest developments in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, noting, “Per NHL EDGE Advanced Stats, high-danger shots were 8-4 Capitals in Game 2 and they have an 23-8 advantage on the Canadiens through the first two games.” This strategy operates in both directions. The Washington Capitals seem to be implementing their game plan with precision, posing considerable difficulties for the Canadiens.

High-danger shots provide a significant offensive edge, as players from those areas of the ice frequently catch opposing defensemen in vulnerable positions. However, this specific approach increases the chances of injuries occurring.

Defensive players and goaltenders are putting forth their utmost effort to prevent scoring chances in key zones, leading to increased physical interactions such as body checks, slashing, cross-checking, and sometimes unintentional collisions. Undoubtedly, the Caps would prefer to avoid having an injured player as they pursue the Stanley Cup.