The Washington Capitals defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Capitals entered the playoffs as a potential Stanley Cup contender. And they are certainly favored to win this series over Washington.

Both Washington and Montreal rank among the NHL’s most-improved teams this season; the Caps jumped 20 points from 91 to 111, and the Habs hopped from 76 to 91, making the playoffs with a 4-2 victory over Carolina in their final game of the season, and with the exact same point total that got the Caps to the dance last April.

Heading into Game 2, the Capitals have extra star power cheering them on at the Capital One Arena on Wednesday night. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, along with backups, Marcus Mariota and Sam Hartman, sat in the front row to support the Capitals.