Overview

• The Ottawa Senators return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years, led by captain Brady Tkachuk and a young core making their postseason debuts.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlantic Division champions, aim to overcome their history of first-round exits, with key players Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner leading the charge.
• The Washington Capitals, top seed in the Eastern Conference, face a surging Montreal Canadiens team that finished their regular season with a strong 7-1-2 record.
• Montreal veteran David Savard announces his intention to retire following the Canadiens' playoff run, adding emotional stakes to their postseason campaign.
• Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas practiced in a non-contact jersey, raising questions about his availability for Game 1 against the Canadiens.