Capitals Beat Canadiens 6-4; Tom Wilson, Evgeny Kuznetsov Score Twice; Backstrom has Four Assists

Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal. After the Canadiens broke the seal with the game’s first tally, the Capitals scored three unanswered goals by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson (2) to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. Jay Beagle made it 4-1 early in the second period, but the Habs would add a goal with less than two seconds left in the middle frame to make it 4-2 at the second intermission. Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. OShie would add tallies to make it 6-2 early in the final frame. The Habs Charles Hudon and Jonathan Drouin would add late tallies to make it 6-4. The Capitals return to the ice on Monday when they visit the Rangers in New York. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.

STARTERS
Phillip Grubauer (12-9-3, 2.29 GAA, .926 sv%) started between the pipes for the visiting Capitals. Carey Price (15-23-6, 3.03 GAA, .903 sv%) started in goal for the Canadiens. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals.

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-Vrana
Stephenson-Beagle-Chiasson

Orlov-Niskanen
Kempny-Carlson
Orpik-Jerabek

Scratches: Braden Holtby, Christian Djoos, Devante Smith-Pelly and Shane Gersich

FIRST PERIOD
The Canadiens would strike first on a turnover by the Capitals in their own defensive zone. Alex Galchenyuk would steal the puck at the half wall and finish for the tally at 8:35 of the opening frame.

The Canadiens appeared to quickly make it 2-0 on the end of another defensive zone turnover, but the Capitals challenged for offsides and won the challenge, keeping 1-0.

Evgeny Kuznetsov would tie the game with a power play tally at 11:11 of the first period.

Tom Wilson would give the Capitals their first lead at 14:49 of the opening frame. This was Wilson’s 12th goal of the season.

Tom Wilson would pot his second of the period to give the Capitals a 3-1 lead at 18:11 of the first period.

The period would end with the Capitals holding a 3-1 lead. Nicklas Backstrom had two primary and one secondary assists in the period. The Capitals outshot the Canadiens 10-9 in the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would make it 4-1 with a power play goal from Jay Beagle at 4:52 of the middle frame.

The Canadiens would cut into the Capitals lead with a goal by Charles Hudon with less than two seconds remaining in the middle frame, making it 4-2 at the second intermission.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would stretch their lead to 5-2 early in the final frame with a goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov, his second of the game. Backstrom was credited with the assist, his fourth of the game.

T.J. Oshie would get in on the scoring with a tally at 4:52 of the final frame, making it 6-2.

The Candiens would respond with Charles Hudon’s second goal of the game at 9:28 of the third period, making it 6-3. Jonathan Drouin would add a late goal to make it 6-4, the final.

SHAVINGS

Nicklas Backstrom recorded his fourth assist of the game. That’s his 20th career game with at least four points and his second this season.
Tom Wilson and Evgeny Kuznetsov both scored two goals.
Jay Beagle scored his seventh goal of the season. In Beagle’s career, the Capitals are 41-1-5 when Beagle scores a goal.
The Capitals improved to 13-0-2 in their last 15 regular-season road games against the Canadiens dating to Nov. 28, 2009 (MTL: 2-11-2), the longest such point streak versus one opponent in franchise history.
Barry Trotz won his 200th game as head coach of the Capitals.
The NHL box score is here.