The Washington Capitals rode a dominant second period and a dazzling goaltending performance from Logan Thompson to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 on Wednesday night, seizing a 2-0 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome scored just 61 seconds apart early in the second period to flip the script after a slow start, while Thompson stopped 25 shots — including a pair of highlight-reel saves in the third — to anchor the win. McMichael added his second of the night into an empty net with 1.1 seconds left to seal the victory.
Thompson, playing just his second game back from injury, was a difference-maker, especially in the third. With the Capitals clinging to a 2-1 lead and momentum teetering, he stretched across his crease to rob Josh Anderson on a 2-on-0 breakaway with 10:59 remaining. Moments later, he got just enough of his stick on a Christian Dvorak deflection to preserve the advantage. The Capital One Arena crowd responded with thunderous chants of “L-T! L-T!” followed by a standing ovation.
“He gave us exactly what we needed,” said Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. “That third period — that was a goaltender willing a team to a win.”
The Canadiens struck first when Dvorak finished off a strong shift with a goal midway through the first period, but Montreal couldn’t withstand Washington’s push in the second. The Capitals outshot the Habs 18-8 in the middle frame, overwhelming a smaller and less experienced team.
McMichael’s first goal — a snipe from the slot — tied the game 1-1. Just over a minute later, Strome buried a rebound to give Washington the lead. From there, the Capitals locked things down defensively and dictated play with puck possession and aggressive forechecking.
Montreal’s goaltender Sam Montembeault continued to shine, making 29 saves and keeping his team within striking distance. He stoned Anthony Beauvillier on a clean look in the first and denied Nic Dowd on a shorthanded break in the second. Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis praised his goalie and saw bright spots despite the loss.
“There’s a lot we can take from this game,” St. Louis said. “We scored first, we pushed hard in the third, and Sam gave us a chance again. We just need to be sharper in that second period.”
Game 3 shifts to Montreal on Friday night, where playoff hockey returns to a packed Bell Centre for the first time since 2017. While the Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, pandemic restrictions limited crowd sizes. Friday’s homecoming promises to be electric — and potentially pivotal.
The Capitals now hold a commanding 2-0 series lead, and with Thompson back in form and their offense clicking, Washington looks every bit like a contender with championship aspirations.
