Three reasons why the Montreal Canadiens might upset the capital – Hockey Writer – Montreal Canadiens

The Stanley Cup playoffs are all surprising. Every spring, the team resists expectations, losers rise, and new heroes are born. Few people brought them real shots when the Montreal Canadiens were ready to face the Washington Capitals in the first round. After all, the two teams have a 20-point gap in the regular season rankings, and the capital has proven to be experienced and statistically dominant. But hockey isn’t played on paper, and Montreal has multiple reasons to believe they can get out of it.

Sam Montembeault

Every year, it seems like a goalkeeper swept the playoffs, not playing in the Vezina Trophy dialogue in the regular season, but suddenly became an unstoppable force in April and May. In 2023, it is Adin Hill. 2019 is Jordan Binnington. This year? It’s probably Samuel Montembeault.

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Montembilt has been steadily present in the Canadian crease throughout the season, but now he has the opportunity to leave his mark on the biggest stage. He has been shining throughout the season, especially in his match against high shots. His calm manner and rapid reflexes gave Canadians a real chance to steal the game they shouldn’t have won.

The goalkeeper is an excellent balanced ball in the playoffs. Popular goalkeepers can change motivation, steal games, or even win the series directly. If Montembeault found his own pace early in the series and maintained that level, it would change everything. Yes, the capital has offensive firepower, but they are known to be quiet when facing a strong goalkeeper. If Montembeault can improve his game, then Montreal’s chances surge.

Canadian young gun

Montreal’s lineup is built around young people. While this may raise concerns about the lack of experience in the playoff environment, it also brings elements of unpredictability and hunger that experienced teams sometimes lack. Canadians hope is more than just a player – they rely on the core of young, energetic talent, ready to prove themselves the biggest stage in hockey.

Lane Hutson – freshly arrived, has turned his head – brings elite skating, offensive instincts and strong upside from the blue line. If he quickly adapts to the pace of the NHL playoffs, his ability to push transitions and create offenses will be priceless.

Ivan Demidov joined later this season, bringing high-end skills that can transform tilt games in a single way. His creativity and vision may be the wildcard that caught Washington off guard. Not even two weeks ago, he played in the Corgi League playoffs with Ska St. Petersburg.

Kaiden Guhle showed off his entire season of being able to handle top-tier matches in tough games, and Juraj Slafkovsky’s growth into the top six threat has been one of the most positive storylines of the season. If these players are ready from the first game, they can inject life and join the Canadians’ offense and keep the capital’s heels.

The youth brought speed, hype, and believed that nothing was possible. This mentality is dangerous, especially in a seven-game series where motivation can swing wildly. The Canadians may not have postseason experience, but they have nothing to lose, which makes them particularly dangerous.

Washington struggles after the Cup

The capital is not their former team. Washington hasn’t won a single playoff game since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018. In fact, they exited in the first round every year, except they missed the playoffs. Although they still have the likes of Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson and Tom Wilson, they are still working to replicate the playoff team.

Plus the psychological burden: another narrative in which the early exports will enhance the capital window firmly close. This pressure may bear heavy burden on the veterans group. If Montreal can compete in Game 1 or 2 and plant seeds of doubt, then Washington may spin quickly.

On top of that, Washington’s goalkeepers performed well in the regular season but lacked playoff experience. There is no dominant playoff record there. Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren competed in just four playoff games.

Canadians are not their favorite. No one pretended. But this is the Stanley Cup playoffs, where seeds aren’t always important, with more game and momentum results than regular season stats. Montreal entered the series with a chip on its shoulder.

This is not easy. Washington has experience, numbers and genealogies. But they also have history of stress, leg aging and not performing poorly in the playoffs. Canadians just need to believe. If their goalkeepers stand high, their young guns will fire early and the hats continue to shake in the spotlight, beliefs may become reality.