The Washington Capitals will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead as they travel across the northern border to face the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the First Round. The series shifts to Montreal as we continue our Stanley Cup Playoffs odds series with a Capitals-Canadiens Game 3 prediction and pick.

If the answer is “no,” that’s OK. Montreal nearly backed its way into the playoffs and the Washington Capitals hit a rough patch of their own. Still, this matchup brings a whole bunch of juice — the most prolific goal scorer of all time, the East’s top team and the return of postseason hockey to one of the sport’s true epicenters.

WASHINGTON — Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome scored a minute apart early in the second period, Logan Thompson made some spectacular stops among his 25 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 on Wednesday night in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series.