Canadiens return to full-capacity Bell Centre in the playoffs for first time in eight years as series shifts to Montreal for Game 3
MONTREAL – Tell the world the Canadiens are coming home.
For the first time since 2017, Montreal will host a playoff game in front of a full Bell Centre crowd as they look to spark a series comeback against the Washington Capitals in Game 3 on Friday night.
Here’s what you need to know heading into the game:
WHEN
Friday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET
WHERE
Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
TV & STREAMING
CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
RADIO
TSN 690, 98.5 FM
TICKETS
Capitals @ Canadiens
PLAYOFF HUB
Canadiens’ 2025 Playoff Central
STATISTICS
Capitals Player Statistics
Canadiens Player Statistics
NHL Gamecenter Preview
NHL Standings
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MONTREAL
Looking for the best spots in town to watch Game 3 with your friends and fellow Habs fans? Come feel the playoff energy at one of three watch parties in Montreal:
For more details on where to watch Habs games through the playoffs, visit the canadiens.com Playoff Central page or click here.
PLAYOFF 50/50 RAFFLE
The Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation’s 50/50 raffle continues throughout Round 1 of the playoffs! All tickets sold—during both home and away games—will be combined into a single cumulative jackpot, starting at a guaranteed $250,000. Once that amount is reached, the pot will keep growing until the end of the final game of the series against the Capitals.
Bonus tickets are also available as an add-on, giving you the chance to win one of 10 additional prizes, including $10,000 in cash, a pair of tickets to a Habs game, a Brendan Gallagher’s game-worn home jersey from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and more.
To view the full list of prizes or to buy tickets, visit 5050.canadiens.com. Must be 18+ and physically located in the province of Quebec at the time of purchase.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Feed off the Bell Centre energy
It’s no secret — the Bell Centre is the most electric building in the National Hockey League and that atmosphere is expected to reach new heights on Friday. The Canadiens must feed off the crowd’s energy without letting emotions get the best of them as they chase a series comeback starting in Game 3.
For what it’s worth, home teams are 14-6 in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff ahead of tonight’s slate.
Control the special teams battle
Numerically, the Habs have “lost” the special teams battle so far. But with such a small sample size, it’s hard to pin the difference in the series on the single extra missed power play opportunity.
That said, staying disciplined will be important for Martin St-Louis’ side as the series shifts to their home arena. And when they do get their chance on the power play, making it count could be the game-changer.
Limit Washington’s high-danger looks
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Capitals hold a 27-16 edge in high-danger scoring chances through two games. Without Samuel Montembeault’s outstanding play, both games could’ve been out of reach well before the third period — exactly the time when Montreal has come alive.
The Habs have out-chanced Washington 7-1 in HDSC in the final frame, but 20 minutes of stellar hockey won’t cut it in the playoffs. If they can bring that same urgency to every period as they have in the third, their chances of winning Game 3 rise significantly.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Regular season
Oct. 31 @ WSH: 6-3 WSH
Dec. 7 @ MTL: 4-2 WSH
Jan. 10 @ WSH: 3-2 MTL (OT)
Playoffs
Game 1 | Apr. 21 @ WSH: 3-2 WSH (OT)
Game 2 | Apr. 23 @ WSH: 3-1 WSH
BY THE NUMBERS: CAPS-HABS
Here’s how the Capitals and Canadiens match up by the numbers:
Capitals
📈
Canadiens
2-0-0
RECORD
0-1-1
33.3%
POWER PLAY
25%
75%
PENALTY KILL
66.7%
3.00
GOALS FOR/GAME
1.50
1.50
GOALS AGAINST/GAME
3.00
Ovechkin, McMichael (2)
GOALS
Caufield, Dvorak, Suzuki (1)
Strome (3)
ASSISTS
Hutson (2)
Strome (4)
POINTS
Hutson (2)
Alexeyev, Beauvillier, Chychrun, Strome (+2)
+/- DIFFERENTIAL
Anderson, Armia, Carrier, Dvorak, Evans, Guhle, Heineman (0)
Ovechkin (15)
HITS
Anderson (10)
LINEUP NEWS
The Canadiens are scheduled for a morning skate at 10:30 a.m. on Friday. Subscribe to or follow the team on YouTube, Facebook and X (@CanadiensMTL) to catch St-Louis’ press conference and player media availabilities around 11:00 a.m. For the full official lineup, check back on the team’s social accounts closer to puck drop.
