Photo: @Capitals
The Washington Capitals downed the Montreal Canadiens, 5-2 Thursday night at Bell Centre in Montreal. The victory improves the Capitals record to 26-14-9 (61 points) on the season.
The Capitals opened the scoring with a pair of goals 20 seconds apart. First, Herndon, Virginia, native Joe Snively recorded his first career NHL goal five minutes into the contest and Connor McMichael answered less than a minute later for a 2-o lead at the first intermission.
Carl Hagelin extended the Capitals lead to 3-0 before the Canadiens finally got on the scoreboard to make it 3-1. Joe Snively would pot his second tally of the game to restore the three-goal lead but the Canadiens would answer late for a 4-2 score at the second intermission.
The Capitals would add an empty net goal from Tom Wilson for the 5-2 final.
STATS
STARTERS
Ilya Samsonov (14-6-0-3, 2.89 GAA, .902 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Capitals. Cayden Primeau (1-6-0-1, 4.62 GAA, .874 sv%) got the start in goal for the Canadiens. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Scratched: Aliaksei Protas
COVID-19 Protocol: Michal Kempny
Injured: T.J. Oshie (lower-body), Anthony Mantha (shoulder).
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals opened the scoring early in the first stanza with a goal from Joe Snively (1) at 5:04 of the period. Justin Schultz (10) had the lone assist. It was Snively’s first career NHL goal.
Snively opened the scoring with a SNIPE! 💨 pic.twitter.com/8m6mQE0igl
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) February 11, 2022
Just 20 seconds later Connor McMichael (7) stretched the Capitals lead to 2-0. Lars Eller (14) and Trevor van Riemsdyk (12) had the helpers.
20 seconds later and McMichael made it 2-0!! 😎 pic.twitter.com/BfNI1RCGyF
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) February 11, 2022
The first period concluded with the Capitals leading 2-0. Shot attempts were tied 13-13 in the first frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals made it 3-0 early in the middle frame on a sharp-angle snipe from Carl Hagelin (3) at 3:40 of the second period. Martin Fehervary (6) and John Carlson (27) had the helpers.
Gotta See It: No angle? No problem.
What a shot by Carl Hagelin! 👏
Presented by @Charmin | #EnjoyTheGo pic.twitter.com/gYTDOnCGFX
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 11, 2022
But the Canadiens would quickly answer. Rem Pitlick (9) made it 3-1 just 29 seconds later. Josh Anderson (8) and Kale Clague (6) had the assists.
Rem Pitlick marque son neuvième but de la saison.
Ninth goal this season for Rem Pitlick.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ij7Aygc9eF
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 11, 2022
Joe Snively would answer with his second goal in as many periods, to restore the three-goal lead. Snively made a nice move and sniped for the Capitals fourth goal. Evgeny Kuznetsov (32) and Justin Schultz (11) had the helpers.
Snively doubles his career tally with a BEAUT: pic.twitter.com/FbpBiJdxCP
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) February 11, 2022
The Canadiens would cut the lead to two with a goal from Cole Caufield (2) at 15:58 of the middle frame. Nick Suzuki (19) and Tyler Toffoli (17) had the assists.
TO THE ROOF 🙌
Now that’s a backhand beauty from Cole Caufield! pic.twitter.com/MzIzG7Z7Uc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 11, 2022
The period would conclude with the Capitals holding on to the 4-2 lead. The Canadiens out-attempted the Capitals +16 shots since the 14-minute mark of the first period.
THIRD PERIOD
The Canadiens and Capitals skated to a scoreless draw for most of the final frame. Tom Wilson would add an empty net goal for the 5-2 final.
The Canadiens led in shot attempts, 49-28, scoring chances 24-18, high-danger chances 10-4 and expected goals 2.46 to 1.31.
The Capitals are back in action on Sunday when they host the Ottawa Senators at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 12:30 PM.
SHAVINGS
- Joe Snively recorded his first and second career NHL goals.
- He becomes the third Virginian to score a goal in the NHL and the first forward from Virginia to score a goal.
- Justin Schultz picked up the lone assist on Snively’s goal. Schultz now has four assists in his last five games and is two assists shy of 200 career assists.
- Carl Hagelin scores to give the Caps a 3-0 lead. Hagelin now has four points (1g, 3a) in his last four games.
- Evgeny Kuznetsov picked up an assist on Snively’s goal. He now has 19 points (7g, 12a) in his last 20 games.
- Justin Schultz added his second assist of the game tonight on Snively’s second goal. He’s now one assist shy of 200 career assists.
By Jon Sorensen
That is the definition of an ugly win. We were smoked on the ice. They nearly doubled us in shot attempts. Samsonov had a good game and save the game for us.
Sammy had a good game. He just needs to stop with the diva stuff. All these fake injuries drives me crazy.
He’s always been that way, even back to his days with Metallurg and even in Hershey. Seems to get injured every other game, only to not be injured. I wouldn’t call it soft, but it’s a bit dramatic, or “diva” like. BTW, Lavi said after tonight’s game he didn’t think Sammy’s “injury” was serious.