From the opening warm-up to the final buzzer, the crowd was electric—and the energy inside the Bell Centre never let up. Fuelled by that passion, the Montreal Canadiens came out flying, clearly pumped and ready from the moment the puck dropped. Even as the Capitals clawed their way back to tie the game, the Habs showed the same resilience that’s defined their season. That trademark “never die” attitude? It evolved into a full-on “in your face” performance—especially for Alexander Ovechkin and his teammates.
The youngest team in the playoffs sent a clear message to the rest of the hockey world: write us off at your own peril. Outshooting the Capitals 40–21, the Canadiens played like a team that didn’t care one bit about who they were facing. They were assertive, aggressive, and entirely unfazed on home ice. And for that, they may have one man in particular to thank: Arber Xhekaj.
For the first time in the series, the Canadiens didn’t just keep up physically—they took over. They out-hit Washington by a wide margin, 45–26. Ten different Habs delivered three hits or more, and even Cole Caufield and Ivan Demidov chipped in with two apiece. The tone was set, and the message was clear: this team was ready to battle.
Yes, home ice advantage played a role. The home crowd, the energy, and the benefit of last change all contributed to the team’s spark. But when it comes to pure physicality and intimidation? There’s one undeniable catalyst.
Some fans have been comparing Jayden Struble’s stats or his puck-moving ability to Xhekaj’s, hoping to justify keeping the Sheriff out of the lineup. But Xhekaj reminded everyone that not everything can be measured in numbers—or even with a sharp scouting eye. Struble may hold a slight edge in a few individual areas, especially one-on-one. But he simply doesn’t bring the same ripple effect that Xhekaj does. The Sheriff doesn’t just change the game—he changes the room.
When Xhekaj is dressed, the Canadiens play bigger. They play bolder. They play with swagger. And the results speak for themselves.
So, Marty—if you were watching closely, and we know you were—maybe scribble that one down in your notebook: your team needs him.
#Habs Josh Anderson on Arber Xhekaj"He's a huge presence. He's been waiting for this opportunity for a little bit now. Right from the get-go, he played unbelievable. He played simple, physical[…] Our guys loved having him in the lineup."#GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey @RocketSports.bsky.social
— ChrisHabs360 (@chrishabs360.bsky.social) 2025-04-26T02:53:33.927Z
Power Play Adjustments
With Patrik Laine sidelined due to an upper-body injury, the Canadiens were forced to shuffle their top power play unit—and Cole Caufield slid back into his natural spot. Though smaller in stature, he’s very much a “Laine Lite” when it comes to execution, and he proved he can handle the role just fine. Caufield finished the night with 11 shots on goal in Game 3—many of them good scoring chances.
One of the most notable changes? Ivan Demidov quarterbacking the half-wall on the opposite flank. His creativity, smooth passing, and quick release added a whole new layer of threat, giving Lane Hutson another dangerous option. With that setup, the top unit looked sharp all night and generated chances with ease.
Injury Updates in Goal
Midway through the game, Samuel Montembeault exited with an undisclosed injury, putting pressure on rookie Jakub Dobeš to step in. He held his own admirably, and while he was beaten by an Alex Ovechkin snipe, there’s little blame to place—Ovi’s done that to the best in the world, and the goal came after a breakdown in defensive coverage.
The Capitals weren’t spared from goaltending woes either. In a scary moment, Dylan Strome crashed hard into his own netminder, Logan Thompson, while hustling back on Juraj Slafkovsky’s goal. Thompson left the ice visibly shaken and unable to put weight on his left leg. That opened the door for former Hab Charlie Lindgren to finish the game for Washington.
We have a series
With the series now gaining intensity both on the scoreboard and in the physical battles, momentum appears to be swinging in Montreal’s favour. The Canadiens didn’t just win Game 3—they made a statement. From the crowd to the crease, from Xhekaj’s impact to Caufield’s relentless shooting and Josh Anderson’s beast mode, this young team played with heart, grit, and swagger.
Game 4 is set for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at the Bell Centre, where the Habs will look to ride the wave of confidence and tie this series. If Game 3 was any indication, the boys aren’t just here for the experience—they’re here to win.
Buckle up. This series just got real.
The way I see it is this:Every single NHL team has a Struble or two. Few other teams have a Xhekaj. Good enforcers who can play are hard to find.And that's what it boils down to, IMO. #GoHabsGo #Habs
— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-04-26T12:35:25.701Z
