Canadiens Playoff Preview & Lines: Carrier Game Time Decision

The Montreal Canadiens (1-3) are set to face the Washington Capitals (3-1), with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.

As for the many injured Habs players, it’s a good news and bad news situation. It’s also from ideal when we consider the team cannot afford to lose on Wednesday night, or their surprise appearance in the playoffs will come to an abrupt end.

First off, starter Samuel Montembeault did not make the trip to Washington, which means Jakub Dobes will serve as the team’s netminder, while Cayden Primeau will act as his backup.

Forward Patrik Laine will not be available to Martin St-Louis, however, there’s a chance defenceman Alexandre Carrier may play, and that’s fantastic news, since the pairing options without the stalwart defender are quite limited.

Carrier is considered a game-time decision, but if he cannot play expect defenceman Jayden Struble to enter the lineup.

ON TOPIC: Montreal Canadiens Defensive Pairings Options Should Carrier Be Injured

Regardless of who ends up playing, it’s a do-or-die scenario for the Canadiens, which means everyone will have to perform well above their station if they’re to secure another playoff game at the Bell Centre on Friday.

The good news is that the top powerplay unit has dominated since Ivan Demidov was added to the mix. As it stands, Montreal has scored on 38.5 percent of their powerplays in the series versus the Capitals, whereas they’ve killed 90 percent of the penalties they’ve taken.

Ivan Demidov sets up Juraj Slafkovsky for a crucial goal to tie the game. #GoHabsGo

Lane Hutson also had an assist. pic.twitter.com/0mcbetrLAZ

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) April 28, 2025

It will take more than just special teams to beat the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, connoting that the top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky will need secondary and tertiary scoring from the rest of the line combinations in the Canadiens lineup.

Rookie Lane Hutson continues to lead the Canadiens in playoff scoring with five points, yet another indication that the phenom isn’t intimidated by any hockey setting. Caufield is the only other player in the lineup who has managed to produce more than two points, to the tune of three goals and an assist in four games. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki trails his linemate, with two goals to his credit.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Washington Capitals Projected Lineup

Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier

Connor McMichael – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Tom Wilson

Andrew Magiapane – Lars Eller – Ryan Leonard

Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Taylor Raddysh

Jakub Chychrun – John Carlson

Rasmus Sandin – Matt Roy

Alexander Alexeyev – Trevor van Riemsdyk

Logan Thompson

Charlie Lindgren

How to Watch the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Game 5 of the Capitals – Canadiens series will be aired on TVA Sports and Sportsnet. Once the game is over, an instant recap complete with highlights will be available on Montreal Hockey Now.