The Washington Capitals advanced to the second round of the playoffs by defeating the Montreal Canadiens, marking their first series victory in seven years. A crucial moment came from Tom Wilson's hit on Alexandre Carrier during Game 4, which players credited as a turning point. After the hit, the Capitals scored four unanswered goals, leading to a 6-2 win in Game 4 and ultimately clinching the series in Game 5 with a 4-1 victory. The Caps were able to shift the momentum in their favor from that moment on.
Ovechkin put it simply when speaking postgame, eliciting a grin from Wilson during their joint press conference. "Well, you know my answer, Game 4, third period, Tom Wilson."
Dylan Strome, like Ovechkin, named the bodycheck when Monumental Sports Network's Al Koken asked about the turning point against Montreal. "Tom lays a huge hit. We're down 2-1 in Montreal, up 2-1 in the series, so that series can kind of go either way at that point."
The Capitals were down by one when Wilson knocked Carrier down near center ice, but the hit allowed Brandon Duhaime to tie the game just 12 seconds later.
Wilson's physicality extended beyond the single play on Carrier, whether it was hits elsewhere in the series, altercations with the Canadiens, or simply setting the tone.
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