Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals (Game Two)

Musings and In-Game Scribbles playoffs

My English is as good as yours, I just write these in a stream-of-consciousness mode that I insist excuses me from small things like rules of grammar or general etiquette. Let’s call it conversational English, hopped up on beans. You know what kind of beans (no, Carl Mellesmoen, not the magic ones).

#8 Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10)
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#1 Washington Capitals (54-15-13)

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Round One – Playoffs (Canadiens lead series 1-0)
Game Two (score posted following scribbles)

Missed it? Musings capture the game in writing. A written transcript typed during the game, posted and edited about thirty minutes afterward. Based on the RDS French telecast of the Montreal Canadiens game, Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, fresher than a looping highlight and good with morning coffee. Or late-night chocolate. A unique way to re-experience the game.

Some Green dude gives us two strange renditions to the two anthems.  Good.  Something a little odd to start the game is in order.

Green smiles much more during the American rendition than the Canadian one.

Halak and Theodore are the goalies.

Dan O’Halloran and Brian Pochmara are the referees.  Some diva behaviour from O’Halloran to start.  Arm-raising.  Few other refs do it.

First Period

Early action is quick.  The hesitation from the first period of Thursday’s game is absent.   Both teams are moving to the puck and each expects the others’ haste.

Faceoff to Halak’s left.

Ovechkin delivers a couple of hits and they are in his style.  Second one sees him leave his skates and launch himself; a four-foot aerial.

Canadiens pick up the puck and drive the other way.  Gomez and Gionta are over the line.  Gionta shoots.  It goes in.  How.  Twenty-eight feet away or so.

Houde’s voice is nearly the ardent old man’s tax return hoot.

Replay shows that Theodore should have had it.

Montreal 1, Washington 0

Caps follow with two decent segments but by the three and a half minute elapsed mark, Montreal has rebalanced the flow.  Gomez line is on and the forechecking is spirited if not intense.

Caps have Backstrom and Ovie on.  A puck is sent behind Halak.  Hamrlik carries it out and sends it to the right where it is turned over.

Canadiens repel the initial entry and then Halak stops a shot from outside the blue line.

Another look at the goal prompts Brunet to say that the Capitals are nervous as a result.

Moore line is on.

They are leaving for the second line; Plekanec and Cammalleri with Andrei Kostitsyn.

Eric Fehr enters on the left side and tries a shot.

Scramble in front of the Montreal net.  Halak falls.  Is up.  Stays in position.  Slot shot was dangerous but the Canadiens are swarming and closing to the football.  Ah, hockey puck.  It’s a bit intense.

But that’s a key element in defensive play.  Twelve men to the ball.  Five fingers are a fist.  Some kind of human math.

Ovie is on.  Turns the net.  Lapierre is following.  Man, Ovie is huge.

Caps get it to the point and s hot is rendered harmless and leads to an exit by Montreal.

Brunet says the lineup is the same as last game.

Moore lien is on as Martin watches his team wearing a mauve dress shirt.

Caps record a sixth shot, Houde informs us and we go to a break.

Brendan Morrison replaces Boyd Gordon in the lineup tonight.

We resume.

Puck slithers to the slot from the corner and Halak is on it.  Houde says it was a great chance for Washington as there was no coverage.

Andrei has it in the mid-slot.  Shoots.  Tink-a-dink.  In.

Montreal 2, Washington 0

Semyon Varlamov is in.  Oh no.  He’s better than Theo.

Gomez line is on to follow.  Brooks Laich and his linemates are on in response

Gomez gets an early high shot on Varlamov.

They dig in the corner.  Somehow the puck gets to Gionta in the slot.  The Capitals are not playing well along the boards.

Ovechkin is in on his own.  He’s going to try do it all himself.  This is an advantage for Vos Glorieux.

He is sent out after turning it over.

Another Cap entry sees a two-on-two battle in the corner to Halak’s right.  Montreal wins it.

The difference in this matchup worth repeating (of the many) is that Washington makes more mistakes than most Eastern opponents.  Montreal is also a mistake-prone team (turnovers) but against Washington, they have the edge.

Fehr is in alone.  Eric Fehr scores on the breakaway.

Montreal 2, Washington 1

Crowd is in it now.  Or for about ten seconds.  Puck chase begins in the Montreal zone.  Montreal is hanging back and it looks like a power-play.  Finally Darche gets at the puck and forces the Caps to quicken their passing.  They do.  Puck goes to the other point for a quick shot which Halak stops.

Halak is disappointed that he couldn’t send a more stony message to his teammates by stopping the breakaway.  Never mind, kid, your team has the lead.  Don’t feel any other way.

On the next sequence, Montreal gets a puck behind the Washington net but a slot pass fails.

Just under eight minutes in the first period.

Puck goes long on the Caps and icing is called.  Faceoff to Varlamov’s right.

Result is a Washington possession after some sliding along the boards.

Tiesto blasts through the PA system.

Plekanec wins the faceoff following an offside.  Canadiens keep it in for a second after another faceoff.

And another stoppage.

We resume with Gill and Gorges retreating but winning on the back boards for an eventual breakout.

Poti makes a mistake, doesn’t handle a puck quickly enough and Sergei Kostitsyn takes up the puck and a long Montreal possession results.

Moore gets it to the point.  Across the blue.  Long shot.  Varlamov gets across for a good save.  Moen and Poti raise gloves in unfriendly fashion. They jaw and bump a bit.

Canadiens’ speed continues to be factor as Plekanec keeps a puck away from the Washington defensive for three-four seconds.  He turns it over inside the Washington blue line.

The other way it goes.  And we see sturdy Mike Green advance twice on two segments from his defensive position.  Caps are pressing.  The shades are desperation and pragmatism.  A final blush may be the cave-chaser.  Until then, Washington is left to manage their emotions on the ice and in masculine silences on the bench.

Ovechkin registers his first shot of the series.  Down the right side, covered and too sharp an angle for anything but a save.  Unless.  Uh.  I won’t say it.

We resume with a faceoff outside the Montreal blue line.  Caps are in after a failed dump-in results in a carry-in.  Backstrom finds Ovechkin in the slot.  Great play but the shot fails.

Now the Caps create space that causes my memories to moan.

Knuble sees the puck hop over his stick in the high slot and I can pretend that the present has nothing to do with the past again.

Deep faceoff to Varlamov’s left.  Moore wins it.  To the point.  Blasted by Gorges.  Moen got the pass back.  Varlamov plays very low for a goalie of his height.  Legs are very wide.  A red-clad scorpion.

Montreal is playing the style they have been identified with.  It may not be their “identity” as many are fond of saying but it’s one of several pages available to them.  They wait and chase then use speed to kill.

Markov is in pain and skating around.  He blocked a shot and took it on his right leg.

Period ends.  Capitals lead 13-8 on shots.

First Intermission
Montreal 2, Washington 1

Theodore left the ice frustrated, we are shown.  He gave Varlamov the high five coming off the ice, accepted a consoling pat on the back from a teammate as he entered the bench area and then banged his stick like a lightning cane as he moved towards the tunnel for the dressing room.  Demers expresses his support for the former Montreal goaltender.

I was never a fan but I can’t help but think “poor little guy”.  I hope he doesn’t agonize too much.

Alain and Francois discuss the games that surprised them this week.  But then Gagnon says that surprises themselves are nothing new and we review unexpected first round victories in recent Montreal history.

1993 – Montreal over Quebec in six
1998 – Montreal over Pittsburgh in six
2002 – Montreal over Boston in six
2004 – Montreal over Boston in seven

Of course I had to list them.

Hey, it isn’t easy.

Gagnon shows some non-Montreal related first round upsets next including a takedown of the Habs by some NHL team some season or other.

Catz, I never promised objectivity.  But I do prefer it.

Viewers are asked which of four players will get the most points in this series; Brian Gionta, Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez or Tomas Plekanec.  I suggest Gionta.

They interview Ovie.  I’m mildly shocked.  His accent is even less pronounced.  He compliments the Montreal goaltending and defence.  He says that maybe getting more traffic in front of the net will help.  He ends off by saying he hopes they will score.  His humility shows in this interview.  He’s a good kid and he’s getting significant Canadian smear in our media these past few months.  It’s disappointing.  He has played dirty hockey to a degree but he isn’t going to get the Bill Romanowski forgiveness coupon.

He’s Russian.  For some that’s enough even though it isn’t politic to say it out loud.  Or even realise it.

Second Period
Montreal 2, Washington 1

Early penalty against Ovie.

First wave is Pouliot with Gomez and Gionta, the team’s defacto number one line.

They are forced out and back behind their own line early.

Poti clears a second entry attempt.

Andrei Kostitsyn is tripped but Houde says it’s a fall.

Canadiens get some success entering when Bergeron carries it in.  Result is a Markov shot wide but a side attempt following.

Stoppage.

Faceoff is to Varlamov’s right.

Canadiens win it.  Still about forty seconds in the penalty.  Canadiens move the puck around but lose it after the third pass; in the circle.

One last entry.  Cammalleri tries a no =look pass as he criss-crosses over the blue line.  Turnover.

Penalty ends.

Moore line is next.

Moore enters.  Dumps it into the corner.  Not much results.

Gomez line is next.  Shot by Gionta goes up and out of play.

Markov loses the puck to Ovechkin at the Montreal blue line.  Ovechkin shoots.  Halak saves it and the rebound is taken by the Canadiens with no other Capitals in sight.

Canadien follow with a possession.  Two passes along the boards.  Pass to Markov from the corner.  Puck goes out of play.

Canadiens defence is playing noticeably well.  Spacek and Hamrlik combine to keep ahead of Washington’s forwards.  Finally a faceoff is called to Halak’s right.  Plekanec line stays on.  Longer shifts for Martin’s top six forwards continues from last game.

Now the Moore line is entering.  Gorges and Gill are already in on the blue. Line.  Gill backhands a light puck to the hash.

Canadiens chase it.  Moen and Moore both plant their defenders against the boards.  Puck stays ahead of them but the checks come almost immediately after the respective releases.

Morrison sends Laich in against Bergeron. Bergeron flails a bit but keeps his balance and rides the play out.

Now on the other end Pouliot gets a burial shovel.  And can’t spade the dirt.  Dealer dirt but Varlamov makes the best save of the game so far.

Why would anyone start Theodore ahead of Varlamov?  There must be more to the story.  Something … dark.  Or maybe just some banal coaching detail.

Like Varlamov’s been hurt most of the season.  But not enough to keep him out of practice.  I dunno.  They’re goalies.  They’re as strange as kickers.

Yes, we all enjoy a good bit of mailroom generalizing now and again.

About eleven minutes in the second period.

Varlamov, it is mentioned, has made ten saves at this point.  Theodore was yanked with only two shots taken.

When Cam Ward came in, everything changed.  I hope this season is different.

The pace has slowed.  Both teams are no longer running on bubbles and hot dog fumes.

Cammalleri hops on.  Canadiens get an entry.  They stay bit ahead of the play.  Plekanec down the boards for Cammalleri.  Backhand no-look pass to Andrei K in the slot.  Bang.  In.

Boy.

Montreal 3, Washington 1

Caps respond immediately.  Ovie sends a pass to Backstrom in the slot.  But somehow the Canadiens coverage (two defenders) and Halak (Slovakian) manage to rumple-stumple things.

Imagine if Dr. Seuss was the commissioner?  Or better, commissioner-referee-in-chief.

The individual is not celebrated enough in North America.  Pay attention to who, in fact, disagrees.

Replay shows that four Capitals missed the coverage on the goal against.  Brunet says they were just standing and watching and they will need to do better.

Lapierre line is on.

Markov and Bergeron are together.  Michel must be pleased.

Pouliot chases the puck into the corner and nearly comes up with it in is water-logged way.

Canadiens look to get a line change and Plekanec is back on.  Both defenders switch as well.  Hamrlik and Spacek are on and working against Ovechkin.  Whenever Movie is on, Montreal plays with the enthusiasm of page-boys.  We need more dragons in this league.

We resume after a brief stoppage.

Moore is following the puck.  Moen supports.  Sergei nearly comes up with a puck using his standing-in-the-neutral-zone, look-here-I’m-a camel method.  Caps steer and contain but aren’t able to keep it in on the blue line.  Brunet says that the Canadiens are playing very well and then says that there is a wall on the Canadiens blue line.

He says it’s what is making the difference to this point.

Just under six minutes left in the second.

Pyatt is following the puck passing.

Long pass is intercepted in the neutral zone.  Covered shot is stopped by Varlamov.

The resulting rush is so well-coverd by Montreal that we see five players under the hash for a brief instant.  And the Candies exit the puck.  Gomez line is on.

Long shot from Gionta from inside the blue line off a drop pass from Pouliot goes wide.  Caps are pursued throughout.  Green has it but is surveyed closely.

The Canadiens are playing a bunch of young, strong fast kids.  And each shift is an instructional (and a regular-season memory exercise) on how to situate and navigate the Capital vectors.

The enthusiasm of youth goes right to the skates.  But so does youth’s disappointment; especially for those who seek easy gratification.

I don’t count Ovie in that estimation.

We resume with faceoff to Halak’s left.  Canadiens win it.  Plekanec.  Interception is caused by a failed pass from Plekanec to Andrei K in the neutral zone.

Penalty.

Brooks Laich.  Houde exclaims in a dropped-potato kind of way.  Clear tripping.  I guess Houde was surprised at how similar it was to the previous tripping (he mentions that penalty)

Canadiens set up.  Three passes or so.  And a turnover and clear.

Second entry is led by Gomez, Pouliot and Gionta.  They struggle to control.  They succeed.  Now Pouliot gets a chance in a rolling river; slot.  Hunt.  Shot swipe.  Another.  He is cycling to keep his balance.  Chops again.  Stopped.

Puck stays in play.  Passes. Along the left side boards.  To the point.  Bergeron fires it.  It goes in.  Houde is as loud as he is in Bell Central.  Deflection?  Brunet thinks it hit Schultz.  Washington defender.

We study the replay.

Now Brunet thinks it might have been off Andrei K in the slot.

Montreal 4, Washington 1

More than a minute is spent waiting for a referee communiqué with Toronto.  Headphones.  They are determining whether the goal was legal.

Could be a high stick on the puck which would neutralize the goal.  Could also be a puck kicked in deliberately.  Neither seems to be the case.  Now we get a third angle and we can see that perhaps they are checking whether Andrei K kicked it.  But no, I don’t think so.

Decision is given.

Refs tell us that they were looking at an earlier play to see if that was a goal.  And that this one was not in question.  No goal for the former. Goal stands for the latter.

Just under two minutes and we resume with Moore’s line on against Ovie and Backstrom.

They have control on the left.  Puck bounds high and somehow into the net.

Brunet says that the refs closed their eyes on some contact on the goalie.

Gill hit him though.  Brunet responds that buddy was in the crease.  Houde says what I thought.

Montreal 4, Washington 2

Goal revives the crowd.  Just under ninety seconds left.

Crowd noise subsides after about eight seconds.  A Hab takedown behind Halak reignites the crowd and the aural flicker rises as Washington pressures.  Heavy pressure.  One Hab falls.  Gloves it.  Second Hab.  Halak is turned around.  Four Caps.  Five Habs.  Puck slithers out.  Gionta slides out like a maid to save it.  Whistle goes.

Pass with the hand.  Backstrom is initially annoyed.  Then he is more calm.

Faceoff will be outside the Montreal zone.

We resume with Cammalleri chasing a puck into the Washington corner.

Cammalleri whacks the defender and is called for slashing.

Legit call.  Brunet says that they’ll call that.

Period ends with Ovechkin firing a shot from the corner at an oblique angle.

Canadiens were impeccable in disrupting the Washington attack, says Brunet.

Shots were tied at 10 apiece for a 23-18 Washington game advantage.

Second Intermission
Montreal 4, Washington 2

Joel is critical of the Capitals and cites some examples.  Jacques says the Canadiens are playing tout un match.

Demers adds that even though Andrei Kostitsyn has not had the great season some expected of him that he has told his own players in the past that one can make up for a poor regular season with a strong playoff performance.

Cammalleri is interviewed by Renaud Lavoie and Cammalleri expresses confidence in his teammates in a captainly fashion.

Third Period
Montreal 4, Washington 2

Andrei Kostitsyn has three goals and the last Canadien to record a hat trick in the playoffs was Eric Desjardins.  I’m sure you remember that game.  Don’t you.

Washington’s man-advantage continues.  About a minute and twenty seconds left in the penalty.  First entry is contained and a clear results.

Second entry sees Knuble nearly score.  But the puck stays grey and a stoppage occurs.

Caps win the draw.  One pass.  Two.  Interrupted and cleared.

Ovechkin stays on the ice for the entire power-play.

Semin has it on the hash.  Other side.  Green is all the way up and into the corner.  But Moore intercepts the slot pass.

Capitals manage another slot pass but the Canadiens are sailors on a storm-shaken boat and they pail and pull, sway and stymie.  Penalty ends.

Caps aren’t done rolling.  Here’s a shot from the point.  Morrison.  Just wide.  Big danger sails.

Lapierre line is on.

They struggle underneath.  Darche slides across a shooting lane.  Shot comes.  Ovie jams in the rebound.  Darche’s light lob-out was intercepted at the blue line.  It’s Ovie’s first goal of the series.

Montreal 4, Washington 3

Crowd rises and manage enough enthusiasm for two let’s go Capitals.

Canadiens get a two-on-two.  Net goes off just before Gionta’s shot clears the line.  Very close.

Stoppage.  Small scrum.  Someone drops gloves.  Poti and Gomez are going to fight.

Gomez is doing all he can to stay on his feet.  Finally they are tangled up.  Then Gomez takes Poti down.  Rare fight for Gomez.

He settles into the penalty box with a relaxed demeanour; just chopped some logs, pal.

Poti is mildly irritated.  He’s in the penalty box, too.  The other one.

Announcements are made over the PA system.  Puck goes out of play moments after the faceoff.

Ovie still looks concerned.  Well, they are behind by one yet.

Faceoff.  Canadiens come up with it.  Long pass deflects off someone into the corner to Varlamov’s left.

Caps exit.  They create.  Tripping.  And both Houde and I are surprised to hear that it’s a Capital penalty.  Semin.

Two in the box.  One man overage.

Replay shows it was in the Capital zone behind the play.

Plekanec line is the first wave.  They have some trouble setting up.  Gionta is on in place of Andrei Kostitsyn.  Houde remarks that not having Gomez on changes the coordination between teammates.  They have trouble going in onside.  Stoppage after a wonky entry.

Washington wins the faceoff.  They clear.

Second wave sees Darche.  Two failed entries.

Canadiens circle.  They enter.  And another failed capture along the boards.  Last entry sees a failed crease pass from Gionta.

Penalty ends.

Thirteen and a half minutes left in the period.

Moore line is on.

Ovie line for Washington.

Canadiens get it at their blue line.  Gorges to Gill.  Up.  And then it’s turned over.

Stoppage afterward.

Plekanec line fights to keep the puck.  They get it and move it out.  Result is a hard Kostitsyn shot from the circle.  Wrister.  Varlamov stops it and holds it for a faceoff.

Plekanec line stays on.

Cammalleri is backchecking like Saku.  Tenacious.

Canadiens come up with it.  Now Cammalleri has it entering.  One-on-one move.  Turns.  Backhand.  Just wide.  Bit o glitter.

Lapierre line follows.

Moore and Lapierre can’t combine underneath.

Fleischman scoots down the left side.  Nothin’.

Pace increases.  Canadiens have a rush and a wide shot.

Gorges is retrieving it behind Halak now.  Break out pass from Pyatt is too far for Gionta.

Gionta shoots high and hard from outside the blue line.  Varlamov gets the biscuit on it.

Ovie enters on the right.  Hamrlik neutralizes him for about two seconds.  Pass from Ovie to the slot.  Backstrom.  In.  Easy.  Beasty.  Very nice goal.

Washington 4, Montreal 4

All thoughts are staples.  Ovie is the Mastercraft smile.

Just under ten minutes left in the game.

Capitals press.  Canadiens are nervous.  Watching.  Lapierre is a bit slow.  Canadiens are pushed back.  Now a puck floops to the high slot where Lapierre golfs it down.  Varlamov exits to play it.

Gomez enters on the left side.  Up along the boards for Pouliot.  Pouliot makes a one-man knee show of it.  Capitals dig it out at last.

Their right side entry ends in an interference penalty against Hal Gill.  He is displeased and says something to the ref as he leaves to serve the two minutes.

Ce n’est pas facile.

Tight race but viewers pick Mike Cammalleri at 30%.  Gionta and Gomez got 27 each while Plekanec got 16.

Houde says that the penalty against Gill was very apt.

Caps win the faceoff.

Shot.  Another shot.  A third.

Brunet says that Backstrom is very patient with the puck and adds that it’s incredible.

Canadiens are in survival mode now.  Gionta and Moore are on the ice.

Just under a minute in the penalty.

Green retrieves.

Up for Brooks Laich.  Canadiens start to get ahead of the Caps on the boards now.  First Markov, then Moen.  A deflected puck is next and Halak reaches up like Gary Carter and ends this sequence.

Just over seven minutes in the game.  Still about thirty seconds in the penalty. Markov lobs it out.

Caps are prevented from setting up.

How long before Montreal gets their rhythm back?  Will they.

Halak makes another save.  Good positioning on a circle shot.

Faceoff to his left.

Moore line.  Lapierre is with him.

Lapierre moves up the right side.  Moen can’t complete the possession.

Chmera enters on the left for Washington.

Capitals nearly get a two-on-one but Chmera loses the puck along the boards.  Markov was hustling back.  Houde thinks he would have made it back.

Hamrlik and Spacek are on for defence.

They move out.  Plekanec.  Two-on-one.  No.  Yes.  To the side.  To Cammalleri.  Back to Plekanec.  A la Kovalev; hands of magic.  Plekanec just has to tap it across the goal-line, hurtling.

Montreal 5, Washington 4

Just under five minutes in the game.  Pouliot is called.  Houde says that the refs are evening things up after five straight penalties against the Capitals.  It’s not a judgmental tone, rather it is matter-of-fact.

Well, let me tell you what I think of that.  Philistine hammer.

If the refs, are, as Houde suggests, evening it out; I have no respect for that.

Penalty is legit, though.  But Houde is referring to the calls they have been ignoring.  The implication is that the refs will close their eyes to Cap infractions until the numbers are more even.

Houde pays attention to details; he would know the reffing tendencies for tonight.

Four and a half minutes in the game and ninety seconds in the penalty.

Gomez is on.  Gionta with him.

Clear.

Caps re-enter.  Brooks Laich with Ovie and Backstrom.  Green on the point.  Ovie, too.  Green’s shot is blocked.

Plekanec and Pyatt are on.

How does anyone that cares manage to type in this situation?  Well, I imagine, I’m the only typing during.  Yes, something is wrong with me.  No news.  My sister’s been telling me so for years.  Decades.  If Houde knows refs, my sister knows brothers.

One last shot from Ovie on the point.  Wide.

Penalty ends as Ovie retrieves a long clearing puck.

Lapierre line is on.  I feel a bit queasy.

I am now exhorting like Tortorella.  Take the man.  Challenge.  Take space.  Oy.

Finally Plekanec and Cammalleri are on and their speed will make things better.  Stick is broken.  Cammalleri will be called.  Backstrom crosses the line.  Passes to Carlson.  Shoots.  Scores.

Washington 5, Montreal 5

Gomez turns it over deep.  Gets away with it.

Plekanec line.

And with twenty-seven seconds left in the period, the puck goes up and out of play.

Semin generates a shot curling up high.  Houde says that Halak was a bit surprised by the quality of shot.

Carlson is just a kid.  Can I shovel your walk?  Egad.

Faceoff to Halak’s right with just five seconds left.  Caps win it.  Shot.  Stopped.  To the corner.  No further.

Brunet says optimistic things.

Washington leads on shots 36-24.

Third Intermission
Washington 5, Montreal 5

Just win, baby.

Fourth Period
Montreal 5, Washington 5

Canadiens win the faceoff.

Early shot from Cammalleri at Varlamov’s left circle.  Wide.

Capitals move the other way.

Shot.  Ting.  In.  Backstrom.

Used the screen, wrister, over Halak’s glove. Crowd loses it briefly and remains fairly loud.   Hats fall on the ice.

They’re red.

Washington 6
Montreal 5 (OT)

Series is tied 1-1 heading back to Montreal for two games in Bell Central.  Monday, April 19, 2010

HDS Stars: Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Ovechkin, Andrei Kostitsyn
RDS Stars: Nicklas Backstrom, Andrei Kostitsyn, Alexander Ovechkin

Related posts:

1. Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals (Game Seven)
2. Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals (Game Six)
3. Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals (Game Five)
4. Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals (Game Four)
5. Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals (Game Three)
6. Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals (Game One)