Apr 23, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) attempts to make a save against the Montreal Canadiens in the second period in game two of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2500efa6-1845-48fd-abbe-ebac6828f9a6.jpeg] Apr 23, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) attempts to make a save against the Montreal Canadiens in the second period in game two of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images After losing game one of their first-round series 3-2 in overtime, the Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] needed a win on Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals]. Despite calls for Arber Xhekaj to be inserted into the lineup, bench boss Martin St-Louis decided to stick with his six defensemen. However, he moved Ivan Demidov away from Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook by swapping him with Joel Armia. The second line got a defensively responsible player while Demidov got to play with Jake Evans, who’s more of a two-way center than Newhook. ANDERSON STEPPED UP Without Xhekaj in the lineup, Josh Anderson has been one of the Canadiens’ best hitters in the tail end of the season, and that trend continued in the playoffs. In game one, he landed four, and early in game two, he had an opportunity to rock Capitals’ hitman Tom Wilson, and he didn’t miss it. It earned him a two-minute boarding call and a cross-checking one when Tom Wilson skated up to him to complain, but it was entirely worth it. Washington got a two-minute power play on the play as Wilson was also assessed two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the penalty kill stood tall. Canadiens At Bottom Of The Athletic Playoffs Pressure Rankings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-at-bottom-of-the-athletic-playoffs-pressure-rankings] Canadiens Desperately Need More From Bottom Nine [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-desperately-need-more-from-bottom-nine] Canadiens: Poised St-Louis Won’t Panic [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-poised-st-louis-wont-panic] Anderson's hit put Wilson on notice that the Canadiens were not about to back down and that they, too, could play heavy. Minutes later, Wilson passed on an opportunity to flatten Lane Hutson against the boards. HAVE TO BE READY FOR THE PUSHBACK Early in the second frame, the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead thanks to the tenacity of the Anderson-Christian Dvorak-Brendan Gallagher line. It was the Habs’ first lead of the series, and they weren’t ready for what came next. The Capitals attacked with a vengeance and pretty much had the Canadiens in the ropes. As a result, within three and a half minutes, the hosts were ahead 2-1, and any trace of momentum the Habs had vanished. Spencer Carbery’s men were relentless for the rest of the frame. Both teams had twice as many shots in the middle frame, which meant eight for the Canadiens and 18 for the Capitals. Samuel Montembeault did very well weathering the storm, but he could only help at one end of the ice. FINDING THE HIGH GEAR EARLIER For a second game in a row, the Canadiens found their high gear in the third period and proved to be a handful for Logan Thompson. Montreal had 12 shots on net through 40 minutes, yet they found the net 14 times in the final frame. Thompson multiplied the big saves and received some help from his post, but what good goaltender doesn’t? The question is, if the Washington goaltender had been solicited that much in the first two frames, would he have been that efficient in the third? Chances are, he would have been running on empty. For a second time in as many matches, Brendan Gallagher was hit by a cross-check in the face that went uncalled, just like the one on Cole Caufield later in the game. The Canadiens’ sniper fell to the ice, Nick Suzuki raised his arms in protest, but both referees kept their arms down. While it’s nothing new for fewer calls to be made in the playoffs, it usually takes a couple of rounds for that infraction to go unpunished. Laine didn’t see a second of action in the third frame; he rode the pine for the full 20 minutes. It has to be said that he struggled through the first 40 minutes. Even though he was often in space on the power play, he elected not to shoot quite a few times, waiting for the picture-perfect pass that never came. It was even worst at even strength, he made hazardous passes and he just couldn't get in the game. Asked about it, the coach said: > These are decisions you make as a coach. I shortened our bench a lot. > Honestly, went with the nine, 10 players I felt could help us - St-Louis on shortening his bench As for Armia, he saw a single shift in the same frame. With St-Louis deciding to put Newhook and Evans together with Demidov, he became collateral damage, just like Heineman, who only stepped on the ice twice in the last 20 minutes. Down 2-0 in the series, the Canadiens do not have much wiggle room left, and changes will have to be made before game three, which will take place on Friday night at the Bell Centre. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! 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