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Alex Ovechkin’s Stellar Performance Guides Washington Capitals to a Solid Win at Montreal Canadiens

In a game that saw Alex Ovechkin add another goal to his impressive tally, taking it to 858, the Washington Capitals outplayed the Montreal Canadiens with a convincing 6-3 victory on Thursday night. This victory further solidifies the Capitals’ powerful commencement to the season. Now, Ovechkin is just a mere 37 goals away from shattering Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Ovechkin’s Pace Towards Gretzky’s Record

Ovechkin, after making Cayden Primeau the 176th goalie he has scored against, is maintaining a pace to net 45 this season. If successful, he could reach or possibly surpass the coveted 895-mark by spring. Before netting with 7:33 left in the final period, Ovechkin facilitated goals by Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas.

Wilson Breaks Power-Play Drought

Wilson broke a 22-attempt power-play dry spell with his team’s leading sixth goal of the season. Brandon Duhaime and Jakub Vrana found the net in less than a minute’s interval. New father, Connor McMichael, too added to the Capitals’ tally, who now stand tall at 7-2-0. This is their best start since 2015-16, when they won seven of their initial nine games.

On the Canadiens’ side, Cole Caufield netted his 10th to draw level with New Jersey captain Nico Hischier for the league’s top spot. Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki were the other contributors for the Canadiens. Primeau managed to block 28 shots.

Canadiens’ Improved Effort Despite Loss

Despite an 8-2 blowout at home against Seattle, prompting coach Martin St-Louis to shuffle his lines, the Canadiens displayed an improved performance. The return of defensemen Kaiden Guhle and Justin Barrow from injury was a welcome boost.

Capitals: A Playoff Contender?

The Capitals’ sample size of impressive performances is growing, making it reasonable to label them as playoff contenders after several strategic offseason additions.

Game’s Key Moment and Stat

Charlie Lindgren’s massive save, denying Caufield during a long penalty kill in the third, stood out as a pivotal moment. This occurred after the Capitals had extended their lead to 5-3. Notably, the Capitals have scored three or more goals in eight of their nine games this season.

What’s Next?

Next, the Capitals will welcome Columbus at home on Saturday, while the Canadiens will visit Pittsburgh.