Washington Capitals center Nic Dowd (26) battles for the puck against Montreal Canadiens left wing Emil Heineman (51) and defenseman David Savard (58) in the first period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Home-ice advantage hasn’t really existed over the past couple of years in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In 2023 and 2024, visiting teams won more games than the home teams did.

That’s not the case so far in 2025.

Entering tonight, home teams were 10-3 in this postseason. And the teams at home on Thursday in the NHL — Tampa Bay, Ottawa, St. Louis and Minnesota — are surely hoping that trend continues. The Senators are down 2-0 to Toronto, the Blues are down 2-0 to Winnipeg, the Lightning are down 1-0 to Florida and the Wild can take a 2-1 lead in their series over Vegas if they successfully protect home ice on Thursday.

It’s not must-win time for any of them, but there’s certainly some urgency.

“I know it’s been a long time coming for Sens fans,” Ottawa forward Brady Tkachuk said, looking ahead to what will be the first home playoff game for the Senators since May 23, 2017. “We’re going to really need them and I’m looking forward to getting out there in Game 3 in front of our fans.”

St. Louis had chances; it led Game 1 in the third period and went into the third period of Game 2 tied. The Blues hope being at home provides the little extra boost that wasn’t there for Games 1 and 2 in Winnipeg.

“We’re going to have the last line change now,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “We’re going to go home. We’re going to be in front of our frenzied crowd. And we’re going to have an opportunity to hold serve at home.”

The Lightning are trying to avoid dropping Games 1 and 2 of a series at home for the first time since Round 1 in 2019, when they were the top overall seed but wound up getting swept by Columbus — and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who now stars for Florida.

“The bottom line is we lost,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said after Game 1. “Whether you lose 6-2 or you lose 1-0 in overtime, we lost the game. Turn the page.”

Minnesota can take a 2-1 series lead, after a 5-2 win in Game 2 at Vegas. The NHL said when a best-of-seven playoff series has been tied 1-1, 66% of the Game 3 winners have eventually won the series.

17 is enough

Cal Clutterbuck says he is retiring from the NHL after playing more than 1,100 games over 17 seasons.

The longtime New York Islanders forward and all-time hits leader did not play this season after not having his contract renewed last summer. Clutterbuck made the announcement on Instagram.

He spent more than a decade as a fourth-line staple for the Islanders after six seasons with the Minnesota Wild.

Big apple extension

The New York Rangers have agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension with general manager Chris Drury.

Owner James Dolan announced the move several days after Drury fired coach Peter Laviolette. The Rangers massively underachieved contending aspirations this season and missed the playoffs coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference finals.

Wednesday’s game:

CAPITALS 3, CANADIENS 1: Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome scored a minute apart early in the second period, Logan Thompson made 25 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series. Thompson was at his best in the third, notably robbing Josh Anderson of what would have been the tying goal on a 2-on-0 breakaway with 10:59 left, then later getting his stick on a deflection by Christian Dvorak. Fans chanted “L-T! L-T!” and gave the goaltender a standing ovation in honor of his performance in just his second game back from injury. McMichael and Strome scoring turned the tide in favor of the Capitals, who after an uneven start looked every bit like the top team in the Eastern Conference and one of the best in the NHL this season. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night in Montreal.