Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist as the Montreal Canadiens triumphed over the Washington Capitals 6-3 in a thrilling Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday. The victory, which cut Washington’s series lead to 2-1, saw a dramatic brawl spill into the Capitals’ bench, both starting goalies leave with injuries, and several key performances from Montreal’s players.
In a game that featured intensity from start to finish, Caufield’s second playoff goal helped the Canadiens take a 3-2 lead just before the end of the second period. He later assisted on Juraj Slafkovsky’s goal, which made it 5-3. Christian Dvorak, Nick Suzuki, Alexandre Carrier, and Alex Newhook also scored for Montreal, while Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Connor McMichael, and Jakob Chychrun found the net for the visitors.
Both goalies were forced out of the game due to injury. Sam Montembeault, who made 11 saves on 13 shots, exited with an undisclosed injury in the second period. Rookie Jakub Dobes replaced him and stopped seven of eight shots. Washington’s Logan Thompson, who had been taunted throughout the game, stopped 30 of 35 shots before leaving the ice with an injury after a collision with teammate Dylan Strome.
The game saw a physical altercation between Tom Wilson of the Capitals and Josh Anderson of the Canadiens, which escalated into a brawl on the Capitals’ bench. Wilson and Anderson were each fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, and both received misconducts and roughing penalties.
Montreal’s crowd, amped up from the start, created an electric atmosphere, chanting “Go Habs Go!” before the puck dropped. After McMichael gave Washington an early lead, Montreal responded quickly. Carrier tied it with a powerful shot, and Suzuki put Montreal ahead with a power-play goal. Despite Ovechkin’s tying goal early in the third, Dvorak and Slafkovsky restored Montreal’s lead, and Newhook sealed the victory with a late power-play goal.
The Bell Centre was at full capacity for the first time since 2017, and fans were vocal, booing the U.S. anthem and loudly singing “O Canada.”
The Canadiens will aim to even the series in Game 4 on Sunday at the Bell Centre. Washington is still without Aliaksei Protas, who has been sidelined since April 4 due to a foot injury.
Source: Swifteradio.com
