Thompson has been excellent through two games against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round, allowing only three combined goals on 61 shots (.951 SV%). That said, the Capitals are tied 1-1 with the Hurricanes and will be desperate for a victory on the road in Game 3 to regain home-ice advantage. The Capitals enter Saturday's contest as +207 road underdogs.
Gibson was a late addition to the Capitals lineup in place of Charlie Lindgren, who is unavailable due to personal family reasons. Gibson is yet to appear in an NHL game and split time between South Carolina (ECHL) and Hershey (AHL) this season.
Thompson nearly stole Game 1 for the Capitals, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced in the 2-1 overtime loss. After a breakout season in Washington, Thompson has arguably been the standout goaltender of the 2025 NHL Playoffs, posting a 4-2-0 record, a .926 SV%, and a 2.17 GAA. He'll need to be at his very best again on Thursday if he wants to guide his team to a bounce back victory in Game 2, as the Capitals enter action at +135 on the money line.
Lindgren was projected to serve as the backup on Thursday, but was a late scratch due to personal family reasons. Mitchell Gibson will dress and back up Logan Thompson in his place.
Leonard only has one assist through six playoff games this offseason and is expected to be a healthy scratch for Taylor Raddysh ahead of Game 2 on Thursday. The 20-year-old right-winger has 15 total NHL games under his belt and has a goal and an assist during that span.
Raddysh was a healthy scratch for Washington's previous three games but is expected to draw back into the Capitals' lineup for Game 2 on Thursday. The 27-year-old winger has only produced one assist in four playoff games this year after collecting 27 points in 80 games played during the regular season.
Thompson stopped 28 of 29 shots in the Capitals' Game 5 win over the Canadiens. Thompson was outstanding in Round 1, going 4-1 with a 2.23 GAA and .923 SV% in five games. Tonight he'll face the Hurricanes in Game 1. He only played vs. Carolina once this season. Thompson allowed three goals on 12 shots in that game before leaving with an injury that would cost him the rest of the regular season.
Raddysh will take a seat on Wednesday to make way for Aliaksei Protas' return from a foot laceration. Raddysh logged zero goals and one assist in the first four games of the series, averaging 11:40 in ice time.
Protas has not played since suffering a foot injury on April 4th but appears set to make his 2024-25 postseason debut in Game 5 after being a game-time decision the past three contests. The 24-year-old Protas had 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season
After leaving Game 4 due to an injury, Thompson powered through Game 5, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 5-2 win, and will return to the crease for Game 5. The 28-year-old Thompson has a 2.54 GAA and .912 SV% through four games (3-1) this postseason. The Capitals enter Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead, attempting to be the second team to advance to the second round of the playoffs. They enter the action on Tuesday as -177 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens team that has scored three or fewer goals each game in this series.
Protas has not played since suffering a foot injury on April 4th but could make his 2024-25 postseason debut in Game 5 after being a game-time decision the past three contests. The 24-year-old Protas had 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season
After leaving Game 4 due to an injury, Thompson powered through Game 5, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 5-2 win, and will likely return to the crease for Game 5. The 28-year-old Thompson has a 2.54 GAA and .912 SV% through four games (3-1) this postseason. The Capitals enter Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead, attempting to be the second team to advance to the second round of the playoffs. They enter the action on Tuesday as -177 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens team that has scored three or fewer goals each game in this series.
Protas has not played since suffering a foot injury on April 4th but could make his 2024-25 postseason debut in Game 5 after being a game-time decision the past three contests. The 24-year-old Protas had 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.
Protas last appeared on April 4th due to a foot injury but has been travelling with Washington for their first-round series vs. Montreal and is a game-time decision to return for Game 3 on Friday. The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth NHL season in 2024-25, with 30 goals, 60 points and a +40 plus/minus in 76 games played.
