The Washington Capitals have not won a playoff series since hoisting the Cup in 2018 and have not clinched one at home in a decade. They have a chance to end both streaks on Wednesday night against Montreal.

The top seed Capitals rallied past the Canadiens to take a 3-1 lead. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Jets, though, lost to the Blues again.

If the answer is “no,” that’s OK. Montreal nearly backed its way into the playoffs and the Washington Capitals hit a rough patch of their own. Still, this matchup brings a whole bunch of juice — the most prolific goal scorer of all time, the East’s top team and the return of postseason hockey to one of the sport’s true epicenters.

Forward Cole Caufield had no playoff experience before the 2021 postseason. He played 20 postseason games that year, getting 12 points (four goals, eight assists). Against the Capitals, he has a team-leading three goals, with one assist, through four games, his four points one fewer than the four of rookie defenseman Lane Hutson (five assists).

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Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis was at a loss for words in describing the message he wants to convey to the Canadiens after their 5-2 loss in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series with the W