MONTREAL — In an exhilarating turnaround, the Washington Capitals triumphed over the Montreal Canadiens with a final score of 4-2, thanks to Tom Wilson’s impressive two-goal performance in the third period. The victory came after the Capitals found themselves trailing 2-0 early in the game, showcasing their resilience and tenacity.
The Capitals saw contributions from Pierre-Luc Dubois and Dylan Strome, who also found the net, aiding the team in their comeback effort. Aliaksei Protas notched two assists, while Logan Thompson made 22 crucial saves, helping the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals secure their ninth consecutive road victory and extend their points streak to an impressive 6-0-1.
The Canadiens initially took the lead with goals from Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield within the first period, putting them momentarily ahead. Goaltender Sam Montembault had a solid outing, making 31 saves during the match. However, the game took a turn after Dubois netted a goal just 30 seconds into the second period, igniting the Capitals’ pursuit of victory.
Wilson played a pivotal role in the third period, scoring the equalizer at 7:10 and then giving Washington the lead with a goal at the 8:12 mark. Strome’s power-play goal just under two minutes later ultimately sealed the win for the Capitals.
In terms of takeaways from the game, the Canadiens showed strong zone entry off the rush despite struggling in even-strength situations, which directly led to their two goals. Conversely, the Capitals, despite missing key players like Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, and Niklas Backstrom, demonstrated their continued strength and adaptability, bouncing back effectively after a lackluster first period.
A crucial moment in the game came when Thompson made four significant saves against breakaways in a stretch of nine minutes during the third period, maintaining the game’s tie and allowing his team to regain control.
Statistically, the Capitals have been impressive recently, scoring a remarkable total of 28 goals in their last seven games.
Looking ahead, the Capitals are set to face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, while the Canadiens will host the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
