Live Blog: Montreal Canadiens defeat Washington Capitals 6-2

Game information/links

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Game preview

Don’t look now, but the Washington Capitals are streaking. They’ve won three games in a row for just the third time this season. After beating the Nashville Predators on Feb. 5, the Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers and the Vegas Golden Knights coming out of the Olympic break despite not the most impressive play. Now they’ll try to win all three games of their three-in-four against the Montreal Canadiens.

It’ll be a tall task. The Canadiens are 6-2-2 in their last 10 and, unlike the Capitals, had a day of rest before the game. It’ll also be a Hockey Night in Canada game, so Bell Centre should be bumping.

The Capitals are now two points out of a playoff spot in the East — third place in the Metropolitan Division and the second wild card spot — but the New York Islanders have two games in hand, and the Boston Bruins have three. So they must continue winning.

Since returning from injury the game before the break, Pierre-Luc Dubois has five points (3g, 2a) in his three outings, turning the team’s second line back into its dominant force.

The Habs are led by Cole Caufield’s 33 goals and Nick Suzuki’s 65 points (18g, 47a). On the backend, Lane Hutson is having another sensational season posting 59 points (10g, 49a) in 58 games. In goal, Jakub Dobes leads the team with 22 victories but has mostly split his time evenly with Montembeault.

We’ll have more updates in the run-up to the game. See you then!

Read our feature on Brent Thompson

Hershey Bears assistant coach Brent Thompson on watching son Tage win Olympic gold in person: ‘Quite honestly, you can’t believe it’

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Even more new Team USA gear released

New Team USA Olympic merch released for men’s and women’s teams including autographed photos and hats

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Lines

Washington Capitals

Montreal Canadiens

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Tunnel shenanigans

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1st Period

Puck is dropped. Duhaime-Dowd-Frank and Chychrun-Roy get the start for the Capitals. Charlie Lindgren will oppose Jakub Dobes in net.

Bad start! Cole Caufield scores on a breakaway 30 seconds in.

Tom Wilson trips over TVR and takes out another Capital from behind as he bowls into them from behind.

Duhaime and Dobes having a disagreement in front of the Habs net.

Charlie Lindgren, way out of position, slides over just enough to rob Lane Hutson on a gimme goal. We have pushing and shoving in front of the net. Canadiens going to the power play

Capitals kill the penalty.

Brandon Duhaime draws a penalty of his own coming out to the box, going wide around Matheson, forcing him to hold him.

Alex Ovechkin rips a one-timer off the post. Dobes stops his next shot.

A somewhat dangerous power play there by the Capitals. They did not score however.

Alex Ovechkin scores on a rebound just outside the crease. That’s the 920th goal of his career!

Sixty-three seconds later, Cole Caufield, unguarded by Ovechkin, scores on a rebound at the far post. Ovi giveth and taketh away.

Caufield now has 10 goals against the Caps in 14 career games.

On his next shift, Cole Caufield is left all alone in front of the Capitals net. He waits, waits, waits, and Lindgren stretches out and makes a glove save robbing him. Big moment there.

Rasmus Sandin with an amazing move to break out in the defensive zone, skating around Nick Suzuki, who loses an edge and goes flying.

At intermission: The Canadiens lead 2-1. The Capitals lead in shots on goal 10-7.

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2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Alex Ovechkin shot on goal, nearly scores again, with choas in front of Montreal’s net.

Martin Fehervary with a huge hit on Brandon Gallagher in the offensive zone. He sends the puck back to Ovi who fires another shot on goal from the point.

Charlie Lindgren stops Nick Suzuki on a breakaway. He then lays backwards to keep the puck from eking past him.

Canadiens were in the Caps zone and dangerous almost the entire power play, but can’t score.

Mike Matheson joins the play and skates down the center lane, beating Lindgren to the far side of the net. As Leonard left the box, instead of rejoining the D, he just went for a shift change, giving the Canadiens an odd-man break.

Kirby Dach beats Lindgren on a one-timer. Wilson got clipped by Dach after he scored, he’s not putting much pressure on his right leg as he skates back to the bench.

Penalty killed.

Protas feeds Beauvillier in front of the net. Beauvi with a deflection but Dobes makes the save.

At intermission: The Habs lead 4-1. This one is in laugher territory now. Caps lead 20-16 in shots.

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3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

Raucous Canadiens fans are doing the wave and singing “Ole'” to open the third period. They are just getting louder and louder as the period goes on.

Dowd off for cross-checking, Dach off for roughing at the 6:00 mark. We’ll play four-on-four for two minutes.

Connor McMichael stopped on a breakaway right off the draw.

Capitals will have a 4-on-3 power play for 10 seconds.

Canadiens kill penalty. We’re under 10 minutes to go now.

Capitals kill the penalty.

Charlie Lindgren pulled with 3:26 remaining for an extra skater.

Habs clear. Ovechkin gets to the puck first. Lazy pass up the boards. Nick Suzuki then throws a no-look shot into the empty net. This one is over.

Charlie Lindgren is back out of the net for an extra skater on the Caps power play.

Jake Evans blocks two consecutive Alex Ovechkin shots from the point.

Evans is rewarded for his fearless work there with an empty netter shot from the defensive zone.

Canadiens win 6-2. Tough loss for the Caps here. Capitals outshoot the Canadiens 30-25. Their next game is on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth at home.

Canadiens beat Caps 6-2 because no one but Ovi can score

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