WASHINGTON, D.C.– All-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin leads the top-seeded Washington Capitals against the Montreal Canadiens in the quarterfinals of the NHL Playoffs today – Monday, April 21– at Capital One Arena Washington, D.C. The matchup is available on multiple streaming services for free. Today’s matchup will broadcast live on ESPN with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. Eastern. Fans who have parted ways with their local cable provider can catch the action by utilizing streaming alternatives like FuboTV and DirecTV Stream, which both offer a free trial. Sling TV is also offering promotional discounts for new customers. How do I watch Capitals vs. Canadiens game for free? You can watch Capitals-Canadiens for free by utilizing a free trial from FuboTV or DirecTV Stream. The Capitals (51-22-9) roared through the regular season slate with 111 points and the best record in the conference. They capped it off with a historic achievement as Ovechkin overtook hockey icon Wayne Gretzky with goal No. 895 for the all-time goal scoring record. The offense is jet fuel across the ice. Washington averages 3.49 goals per game, which is the second-most in the NHL. The Capitals’ plus-56 goal differential is tied for the third-best in the NHL. Ovechkin blasted through 44 goals this season while Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas also reached the 30-goal threshold. Dylan Strome was one goal away from joining the 30-goal club. The Capitals defense is potent, allowing just 2.79 goals per game, which ranks in the top-10 of the NHL. Goalkeeper Logan Thompson appears poised for his return after being out of action since April 2. He has racked up 30 wins and a .910 save percentage. Washington has not made it out of the first round since 2018. The wildcard Canadiens (40-31-11) are back in the NHL playoffs after a four-year hiatus. They secured the seed in the second-to-last day of the regular season slate. The Habs possess some promising young pieces that will be making their NHL postseason debut after a 91-point performance this season. They are the youngest team to make the Stanley Cup Playoff field this season. The ice statistics won’t jump off the page, but they are a feisty bunch led by Nick Suzuki’s career-best 89 points. Cole Caufield tallied a career-high 70 points, including 37 goals. Rookie defenseman Lane Huston could be the X-factor, pouring in a stunning 60 assists this season. Who is announcing Capitals vs. Canadiens? Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Ray Ferraro (analyst) will be the announcers while Emily Kaplan reports rinkside. What are the latest odds for Capitals vs. Canadiens? Moneyline: WAS: (-198), MTL: (+164) Puck spread: WAS: -1.5, MTL: +1.5 Over/Under: 6.5 Here’s more information on how to watch Capitals-Canadiens on TV and streaming services: What: NHL Playoffs East Quarterfinals Game 1: Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens When: Monday, April 21, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Where: Capital One Arena | Washington, D.C. Channel: ESPN Best streaming options: FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and Sling TV (promotional offers for new customers) Cable Channel Finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DirecTv, Dish, Verizon Fios