WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals will get a rematch of 2010, as they're set to face the Montreal Canadiens to open the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Montreal defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Wednesday to officially eliminate the Columbus Blue Jackets from contention and clinch the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Canadiens finished the season with 10 wins in their final 14 games to clinch a spot, though they cut it close after dropping the last three games.

This was the last playoff series to be finalized in the league and marks the first time Montreal will return to the playoffs since 2021. That year, where the divisions were realigned amid the COVID-19 and travel restrictions, the Canadiens made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.

This season, Washington got the better of the Canadiens over three meetings, going 2-0-1 and outscoring them 12-8. Tom Wilson had the most goals against Montreal for the Capitals this season, scoring three in three games.

The last time these two teams played in the postseason, the Capitals, who were thee top seed, had a 3-1 series lead, but then lost three straight games and suffered a shocking first-round exit. That was the only time these two teams faced one another.

Washington closes out the regular season on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and then has a day off Friday before its first practice of the postseason on Saturday.

The full 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff schedule will be released at a later date.