After a Tom Wilson hit changed the trajectory of Game 4, the Washington Capitals are on the precipice of winning their first playoff series since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018.

To do so, they’ll need more timely goaltending and scoring. And tonight they’ll receive a boost from a familiar friend.

Thirty-goal-scorer during the regular season, Aliaksei Protas, will make his 2025 postseason debut and suit up in his first game since April 4 when he was cut in the foot by a skate blade. Taylor Raddysh will sit and Protas will replace him on the fourth line.

Jakub Dobeš will start for a second consecutive game in place of injured Sam Montembeault, who left Game 3 due to injury. Alexandre Carrier will play after being injured by Wilson’s big hit in Game 4.

Puck drop for Game 5 is at 7:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe B and Craig Laughlin have the call. Let’s go Caps!

Lines

Washington Capitals

Montreal Canadiens

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Bob McDonald signs the national anthems. He even did the Canadian national anthem in French!

Puck is dropped.

Duhaime-Dowd-Protas and Roy-Sandin get the start for the Capitals.

Alex Ovechkin toe drags Hutson and nearly scores on Dobeš with a backhander to the top corner.

TVR on a semi breakaway, but misses the net completely on his slap shot attempting to hit the top corner short side.

Canadiens have four of the first five shots in the game, mostly because the Capitals are missing the net or having shots blocked.

Turnover behind the net nearly ends up a Brendan Gallagher goal.

Nic Dowd breaks up a Ivan Demidov chance while on his knees.

Pierre-Luc Dubois to the box at 7:06 for interfering Ivan Demidov.

Habs power play.

Slafkovsky to the box for slashing Brandon Duhaime at 8:34.

4-on-4 Hockey for 32 seconds.

Caps power play for 1:28.

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