MONTREAL 鈥� There was a lot Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis liked about Montreal鈥檚 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Friday. But he also knows there's work to be done.
The Canadiens outshot the Capitals 40-21, outhit them 45-26, won more faceoffs than their opponent, committed less giveaways, and scored on two of their five power play opportunities as Montreal cut Washington's first-round series lead to 2-1.
Still, St. Louis recognizes that the Habs' Game 3 performance was no work of art.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy with our resilience,鈥� said St. Louis on Saturday. 鈥淟ast night, we played our best game so far, but even during that game, there were mistakes. It鈥檚 about correcting them. It鈥檚 more than just Xs and Os, it鈥檚 an attitude and a mindset.鈥�
While Montreal makes adjustments to its game ahead of Game 4 back at Bell Centre on Sunday, the Canadiens know full well their opponent is doing the same thing.
鈥淭hey (the Capitals) are one of the best teams in the league and it鈥檚 about being ready for that response from the start,鈥� said St. Louis.
鈥淭hey probably threw that game out the window and they鈥檙e just focusing on Game 4,鈥� said Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably what we would do. That game鈥檚 over now. We鈥檙e not going to think about it, they鈥檙e probably not going to think about it.
"We focus on tomorrow and move on.鈥�
Both teams, however, are preparing for that Game 4 with lingering doubts as to who will be their starting goaltender come puck drop.
Montreal netminder Samuel Montembeault left the game midway through the second period on Friday with a lower-body injury. St. Louis said Saturday that Montembeault was still being evaluated for the injury, refusing to rule out the 28-year-old from playing on Sunday.
Jakub Dobes, who picked up the win in relief of Montembeault, would be in line to start on Sunday in the event the Becancour, Que., native is unable to suit up.
Both St. Louis and Guhle are confident in the rookie netminder鈥檚 ability to step in if called upon, pointing to the 23-year-old鈥檚 strong play in goal for the better part of his 15 regular-season starts.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what he鈥檚 done for us this year,鈥� said St. Louis. 鈥淗e came in and had an excellent start. There was a tougher stretch for the young goalie, but he finished strong. His last two starts (against Nashville on April 6 and in Toronto against the Maple Leafs on April 12), we needed those points and he gave us a great performance.
"It鈥檚 about playing well in front of him so that he鈥檚 not forced to steal a game. We know that he鈥檚 able to do that too, but he鈥檒l be ready for anything and we鈥檒l try to help him.鈥�
Guhle agreed with his coach.
鈥淚 have all the confidence in the world in Dobes,鈥� added Guhle. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got a lot of confidence in himself, which you need as a young goalie coming into the league. I think he believes that there鈥檚 no moment too big for him.鈥�
Meanwhile, Capitals starter Logan Thompson was also forced to leave Game 3 after teammate Dylan Strome crashed into him following the Canadiens鈥� fifth goal of the game, scored by Juraj Slafkovsky.
Thompson was not on the ice with his teammates Saturday afternoon during Washington鈥檚 optional practice at Bell Centre. Washington bench boss Spencer Carbery was still awaiting an update from his training staff as to Thompson鈥檚 status for Sunday night鈥檚 game.
Charlie Lindgren, who played the final 6:37 of Game 3, is preparing himself to play in Game 4.
鈥淚 always feel ready,鈥� said Lindgren. 鈥淓very day, I鈥檝e kept on working to potentially play in moments like this. You think about 10-year-old Charlie, what he would do to be in a situation like this. It鈥檚 really cool situation and place to be in. I definitely don鈥檛 take it for granted.鈥�
Lindgren began his career with the Canadiens, spending his first five NHL seasons in Montreal. While the 31-year-old never suited up for the Canadiens in the post-season in his time with the team, he is confident he would be able to meet the moment.
鈥淛ust getting a taste yesterday a little bit, feeling that environment, I think it was important,鈥� said Lindgren. 鈥淵ou want to know what you are getting into. When you come into Montreal, you had a pretty good idea of what you were going to get. They didn鈥檛 disappoint."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2025.
Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press
