In a thrilling matchup on Thursday evening, the Washington Capitals triumphed over the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 6-3, largely thanks to Alex Ovechkin’s impressive performance, which included his 858th career goal along with two assists. This victory reinforces the Capitals’ solid start to the season.
Ovechkin now sits 37 goals behind Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. He managed to make Cayden Primeau the 176th goaltender to find himself on the receiving end of a goal from the superstar. With Ovechkin’s current pace, he could potentially net 45 goals this season, bringing his total to 895 or more by the spring.
The Capitals showcased a strong offensive effort, with Ovechkin setting the stage by assisting on goals scored by Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas before sealing the deal with his own goal at 7:33 in the third period. Wilson’s goal marked a significant moment, ending a power-play drought that had lasted 22 tries, bringing his season total to six goals.
Additionally, the Capitals saw contributions from Brandon Duhaime and Jakub Vrana, who both found the net in quick succession, less than a minute apart, while Connor McMichael, celebrating his recent fatherhood, also scored. The Capitals’ record has now improved to 7-2-0, a feat they haven’t accomplished since the 2015-16 season when they won seven of their first nine games.
On the other side, Cole Caufield of the Canadiens scored his 10th goal, tying him with New Jersey’s Nico Hischier for the league lead. Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki also tallied goals for Montreal, while Primeau made an impressive 28 saves throughout the game.
Noteworthy observations include the Canadiens showing improvement after coach Martin St-Louis adjusted their lines following a heavy 8-2 loss to Seattle. The return of defensemen Kaiden Guhle and Justin Barrow from injury also contributed to a better performance.
For the Capitals, the strong start has led to optimism, as the previous notion that they might be a playoff contender seems validated with several strategic offseason additions now coming to fruition.
A pivotal moment during the game came when Charlie Lindgren made an essential save against Caufield while the Capitals were on a lengthy penalty kill, securing his 13 saves after Washington had taken a 5-3 lead.
In terms of statistics, the Capitals’ offense has been particularly potent, scoring three or more goals in eight out of their nine games so far this season.
Looking ahead, the Capitals are set to host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, while the Canadiens will travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins.