If there was any doubt about what the Washington Capitals were thinking about doing to the Montreal Canadiens in their first-round playoff series, it got erased on the first shift.
Sub-6-foot forward Anthony Beauvillier finished a hard check on Alexandre Carrier. Captain Alex Ovechkin followed that up by crushing the other defenseman, Mike Matheson.
鈥淓verybody was hitting,鈥� Ovechkin said after Monday night.
The start of the NHL playoffs is off to a heavy-hitting start, with nearly 80 per game early in the first round after an average of just over 40 during the regular season. Of the 255 skaters who have dressed, 214 鈥� 84% 鈥� have been credited with at least one hit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 part of playoff hockey: When the stakes get raised, the physical intensity of the games increases significantly,鈥� Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said Tuesday. 鈥淚 know they鈥檙e exciting for the fans, they rattle the boards and everybody cheers and that, but, over time, if you constantly are being physical on your opponent, it adds up.鈥�
The Capitals are leading the way after a concerted effort to finish checks in Game 1. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars have not been shy about physicality and are .
The and were physical with the Oilers, with defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov delivering the most eye-catching shot with a cross-check on Viktor Arvidsson in the first period.
"It was pretty clear for us we came to play,鈥� Gavrikov said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the playoffs, and they鈥檙e going to do the same against us, so we鈥檝e got to protect each other, protect our goalie and be together.鈥�
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals
When/Where to Watch: Game 2, Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN)
Series: Capitals lead 1-0
The Capitals pushing the Canadiens around in their series opener was enough of a concern that coach Martin St. Louis got repeated questions about inserting 6-foot-4, 240-pound tough guy Arber Xhekaj into the lineup on defense.
鈥淚 have Xhekaj,鈥� St. Louis said. "It鈥檚 a card. I might play him. I don鈥檛 know yet. But it鈥檚 good to have.鈥�
Washington is bigger, stronger and more experienced and Montreal could use more toughness to counter a bruising style.
鈥淚 think we can be a physical team," forward Alex Newhook said. "We鈥檝e got a lot of big guys, we鈥檝e got a lot of strong guys here and I think with our pace we can bring that physicality, as well, and match it.鈥�
The Capitals are built for this brand of hockey. The physicality was not a coincidence.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to pay dividends in the end," said fourth-line center Nic Dowd, who had three hits. "There鈥檚 going to be certain plays where D-men are expecting pressure and then guys have the ability to maybe lay off and maybe read a reverse or a rim or something like that, and then there鈥檚 going to be turnover. But you have to invest early.鈥�
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT (ESPN)
Series: Tied 1-1
to win Game 2 for Dallas being a healthy scratch in the opener made it a series. Now all eyes are on Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog as the series shifts to Denver.
Game 3 could be Landeskog's first NHL action since June 26, 2022, when he and the Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup. He has on a chronically injured right knee since but in recent weeks did a conditioning stint in the minors and even dressed for warmups Monday night.
Landeskog returning at home would provide an emotional boost for the team and fans.
鈥淗e brings a lot to the table when it comes to his leadership and his presence in the room and and then obviously, we鈥檒l see how it goes on the ice,鈥� coach Jared Bednar said. 鈥淗e provides a lot of things that could help us in Game 3.鈥�
The Stars are still without No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen after and leading goal-scorer Jason Robertson, with a lower-body injury. They are fully preparing for Colorado to get Landeskog back.
鈥淓specially if he is back in the lineup, it鈥檚 going to be extra charged,鈥� coach Peter DeBoer said. "But if you can get through the first 10 minutes, usually it settles into a normal hockey game.鈥�
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings
When/Where to Watch: Game 2, Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TBS)
Series: Kings lead 1-0
The opener ended in glorious playoff chaos on Phillip Danault's goal with 41.1 seconds left, helping the Kings survive Edmonton scoring four times in the third period to win 6-5.
鈥淲e know they have an offensive machine, but we have to learn from this and move on,鈥� Danault said.
The result still didn鈥檛 give much comfort to Los Angeles, which was once again helpless to slow down Connor McDavid and the Oilers鈥� top-end talent when it mattered. The Kings actually defended quite well for most of the first two periods, but Edmonton scored twice in the final 2 1/2 minutes with goalie Stuart Skinner pulled for an extra attacker.
The Oilers dug themselves a hole with poor defensive play in the first two periods. Coach Kris Knoblauch lamented the 鈥渂reakdowns鈥� that cost Edmonton, but its blue line will be tested with by injury.
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AP Sports Writers Stephen Hawkins in Dallas, Pat Graham in Denver and Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed.
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AP NHL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
