The Washington Capitals took a 1-0 series lead on Monday after Alex Ovechkin notched his first career playoff overtime goal and a three-point night — the oldest player to do so in NHL history. Now the question becomes: what do they do for an encore?
The Capitals took it to Montreal early, but the third period was an adventure as the Habs found their sea legs and had several extended shifts, eventually forcing overtime.
Both teams will enter Wednesday’s Game 2 with the same lineups and same starting goaltenders — Logan Thompson and Sam Montembault. Alex Alexeyev will suit up despite losing three teeth — two of which were found by the Caps Ice Crew during the overtime intermission.
Puck drop for Game 2 is at 7:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe B and Locker have the call. Let’s go Caps!
Lines
Washington Capitals
Montreal Canadiens
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Bob McDonald and Caleb Green sing the national anthems… beautifully.
Puck is dropped on Game 2.
Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier and Sandin-Roy get the start against Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher and Matheson-Carrier.
Alex Ovechkin with another huge hit, taking out one of his teammates too, lol.
Capitals dominating in the first five minutes again including a Jakob Chychrun shot that hits the post.
A scrum between Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson at 8:14. Anderson gets two minutes for boarding and two minutes for cross-checking. Wilson gets a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct too, sending the Capitals to a power play.
Capitals power play.
After Ovi misses the net with a huge shot, the puck rims around and the Canadiens nearly had a 2-on-0 . Ryan Leonard hustles back though on the backcheck to break it up.
Canadiens kill penalty.
Leonard sends Anthony Beauvillier in for a clear-cut chance in front of Sam Montembeault, but the goalie was ready for it.
Patrik Laine attempts to hit Lars Eller and gets the worst of it.
Alex Newhook whiffs on the surefire game-opening goal after Laine makes a good play at the Capitals’ blue line.
At intermission: The score is still 0-0 after 20 minutes. The Capitals lead in shots 9-4, and five-on-five shot attempts are tied 15-15.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Montreal Canadiens. MTL Goal: Christian Dvorak (1). Assists: J. Anderson (1), B. Gallagher (1). Time: 01:16.
Christian Dvorak picks up a fluttering Brendan Gallagher shot and deposits it behind Logan Thompson to open the scoring.
🚨 1-1 Tie. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (1). Assists: T. Raddysh (1). Time: 03:47.
Connor McMichael banks a shot off of David Savard and past Montembeault just 2:29 after the Canadiens opened the scoring.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Dylan Strome (1). Assists: A. Beauvillier (2), R. Leonard (1). Time: 04:47.
Beauvillier finds Dylan Strome with a perfect net-front feed that is initially stopped by Montembeault, but Strome slams home the rebound.
Matt Roy cross-checks Anderson and gets sent to the box for two minutes.
Canadiens power play.
Nic Dowd stopped on a shorthanded 2-on-1 chance. Tom Wilson gets another half-breakaway moments later, which is also stopped.
Capitals kill penalty.
Brandon Duhaime absolutely crunches Mike Matheson behind Montreal’s net, and the Capital One Arena crowd loves it.
Dowd runs into Struble and gets called for a two-minute interference minor penalty.
Canadiens power play.
A lot of zone time for the Canadiens, but nothing really troubles Thompson.
Capitals kill penalty.
At intermission: The Capitals are up 2-1 after 40 minutes. The Caps lead in shots 27 to 12 and five-on-five shot attempts 40 to 32.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Andrew Mangiapane has the first big chance of the third period, forcing Montembeault into a blocker stop on an odd-man rush.
Thompson makes an otherworldly diving save on Jake Evans to keep the Caps in front.
Another massive stop on a breakaway from Thompson on Anderson.
Mangiapane has another chance to put the Caps up two but is stopped again by Montembeault.
Thompson AGAIN, with a fantastic save on a deflection try.
Montembeault has been pulled for an extra attacker.
🚨 3-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (2). Assists: P. Dubois (1), T. Wilson (2). Time: 19:59.
McMichael hits the empty net. Caps are gonna take this one as well.
Capitals win Game 2, 3-2.
Let’s all go to Canada: Caps beat Habs 3-1 to take 2-0 series lead
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