Canadiens vs Capitals: team predictions

Mathis Therrien: Canadian in 7

I think the guys are going to play without pressure like they’ve been doing most of the season, and that’s when they’ve performed best. They’ve been underestimated all season and they’ll be underestimated again.

The guys are going to play for David Savard and they’re going to stand up like never before, so I think they can surprise with Samuel Montembeault, who will be in great form, and Nick Suzuki, who is captain clutch.

Félix Forget: Canadian in 7

The Capitals are running out of gas and Ivan Demidov is going to inject some energy into the CH. He’ll be the Habs’ top scorer in this series.

I don’t think the Habs will be able to beat the Capitals if Demidov is quiet. Remember Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield against the Maple Leafs in 2021.

Kevin Vallée: Capitals in 6

The Habs are out of juice. The guys squeezed what was left out of the bottom of the tank to qualify with 91 points, but the guys all have boo-boos (the infirmary is full) and the Capitals are really imposing.

Montreal got off to a bad start in the series, winning two in a row with the energy of despair, but losing out. Ivan Demidov will be dangerous, but will be slowed down by the context and his coach‘s caution.

Michaël Petit: Canadian in 6

The Habs will take advantage of the Bell Centre’s energy by picking up a win in Washington in Game 1, because the Capitals will be taking the CH lightly.

Juraj Slafkovsky will play like a true Brady Tkachuk and all the trios will contribute in one way or another.

Pablo Herrera : Canadian in 7

Tony Patoine: Canadian in 6

The Caps haven’t finished their season strong (8 losses in their last 12 games) and the ankle injury to big man Aliaksei Protas could – literally – hurt them badly in the playoffs. Their #1 goaltender Logan Thompson and reliable defenseman Martin Fehérváry also seem far from 100%, although we should see them against the CH.

More generally, one wonders about this team’s focus and motivation after Alex Ovechkin’s record. On the Flannel side, in theory, Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson are the two best players in this series.

With a little help and magic from Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine and Samuel Montembeault, the CH’s best players could well have the upper hand over the Caps’, although Strome, Dubois, Wilson and company will have to be wary.

Montreal is just one win behind Washington in the last 52 games. First and eighth place mean nothing here.

Jonathan Di Gregorio: Canadian in 6

The CH will take advantage of a few mentally and physically beneficial days of rest to get back to its 4 Nations break level, and will surprise the Caps, who seem to be lacking a bit of gas since Ovy broke his record.

Also: Ivan Demidov!

Charles-Alexis Brisebois: Capitals in 5

The Habs have been struggling to get off to a good start in recent weeks, so playing catch-up field hockey against a playoff powerhouse won’t be easy for the young Montreal team.

But even if I see the series ending in five, I don’t see the CH getting downgraded.