Alex Ovechkin achieved a significant milestone by scoring his first playoff overtime goal, leading the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of their playoff series. This win marks Washington's first postseason triumph since May 7, 2022, following Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal tally earlier this month. The Capitals initially held a two-goal lead but saw it erased late in the third period.

Despite a valiant effort from goaltender Sam Montembeault of the Canadiens, who made 29 saves, the Capitals' aggressive play and Ovechkin's decisive goal in overtime sealed the win. The series continues with Game 2 in Washington.

The Minnesota Wild are grappling with offensive struggles as they edge closer to the playoff picture, significantly affected by the absence of key players Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. Their recent performance has seen them score an average of just 2.1 goals per game, highlighting the uphill battle they face to reach the crucial three-goal mark, often needed for victory. With only seven games remaining, the team's mentality is to stay positive and maintain relentless pressure, as evidenced in their recent shootout loss against the New Jersey Devils.

Despite their difficulties in scoring at even strength—averaging 1.5 goals without power plays—the Wild have shown resilience on the defensive end, buoyed by players like Jonas Brodin and solid goaltending from Filip Gustavsson. Players like Matt Boldy and Marcus Foligno have embodied the team's 'head down and keep working' ethos, crucial as they navigate the final stretch of the season while hoping for a playoff berth.

In a recent outing, Alex Nedeljkovic made a significant return to the ice, stepping in as the Penguins' goaltender after a two-week absence. He faced a barrage of 48 shots from the Columbus Blue Jackets, stopping 45 of them, leading to a 6-3 victory for the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. This win marked the Penguins’ fifth in six games and improved their season record to 29-32-10. Nedeljkovic's performance was crucial, demonstrating his readiness to reclaim his role amid a competitive stretch in the season, especially as he replaced Tristan Jarry, who had been on a five-game starting streak.