WASHINGTON, D.C. — For Kaiden Guhle, it took mere milliseconds for the puck to deflect, and even less to prepare for the impactful hit from Tom Wilson early in his debut Stanley Cup Playoff game.
Having watched countless playoff games on television, the 23-year-old, along with his young Montreal Canadiens teammates, quickly grasped the amplified intensity of playoff hockey firsthand on Monday.
“If playing from my couch were an option, I’d rival McDavid,” quipped the Edmonton native, emphasizing, “The game`s pace is significantly higher when you`re actually on the ice.”
Experiencing this intensity might be seen as a victory in itself for Guhle and the other Canadiens new to playoff action. More importantly, they responded to the electric atmosphere, holding their ground until Alex Ovechkin secured an overtime victory for the Washington Capitals, leading the series 1-0.
Ovechkin, leading active NHL players with 72 playoff goals, scored first in the 19th minute as the Canadiens initially seemed overwhelmed by the occasion.
However, even by the time the veteran 39-year-old secured the winning goal, the Capitals hadn`t managed to break the Canadiens` spirit.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery acknowledged post-game, “One thing I’ve learned about their coach and team: they will compete fiercely until the end.” He was right.
The Canadiens mirrored their regular-season form – resilient and responsive. They absorbed pressure but rallied, mirroring their regular-season comebacks. They had previously won eight games after trailing after two periods, and nearly repeated this feat in their playoff opener.
Crucially, Cole Caufield scored a power-play goal, followed by Nick Suzuki`s game-tying goal with just over four minutes left in regulation. Equally important was Montreal`s pushback, outshooting Washington 35-30, shifting from a defensive stance to dictating play for much of the game.
Tristan Blackwood