The Washington Capitals were back at it last night. If you’re checking your phone or asking what was the score of the capitals game, you're probably looking for more than just a box score; you want to know if they actually looked good or if they were just skating in circles.
They won. It was a gritty 3-2 victory against the Montreal Canadiens.
It wasn’t exactly a masterpiece. Honestly, the first period felt a little sluggish, with both teams struggling to find any real rhythm through the neutral zone. But things heated up. Fast.
Breaking Down the Score of the Capitals Game
The game took place at Capital One Arena in D.C., and the energy in the building was palpable once the puck finally started finding the back of the net. After a scoreless opening frame where Charlie Lindgren made a couple of massive saves to keep the Caps in it, the second period opened the floodgates.
Tom Wilson got things started. He’s been on a tear lately, and he found a dirty goal right in front of the crease about five minutes into the second. It’s that classic Wilson style—just parked there, taking abuse, and waiting for a rebound. Montreal answered back quickly, though. Nick Suzuki caught the Capitals' defense sleeping on a line change and tucked one under Lindgren’s pad.
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1-1.
The tension was real. You could feel it in the stands.
Then came the power play. Washington’s man advantage has been a bit of a roller coaster this season, but they looked sharp here. Alex Ovechkin didn't get the goal himself—he's still chasing that Gretzky record, sitting at 863 career goals as of this morning—but his presence on the left circle opened up a massive lane for Dylan Strome. Strome didn't miss. He ripped a one-timer that nearly tore the netting.
Why the Third Period Was a Total Stress Test
Leading 2-1 going into the third is usually a good spot, but the Capitals have a habit of making things interesting. Maybe too interesting.
The Canadiens pushed hard. Cole Caufield is a nightmare to defend because he's so small and shifty, and he managed to tie it up 2-2 with about twelve minutes left in regulation. At that point, the "what was the score of the capitals game" query was looking like it might end in an "OT" or "SO" suffix.
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But then, Aliaksei Protas happened.
Protas has been the unsung hero of this roster lately. He’s huge, he’s got reach, and he’s finally starting to use his frame to protect the puck. He forced a turnover in the offensive zone, fed it to Connor McMichael, who sent it right back. Protas buried it.
3-2 Capitals.
The final five minutes were a defensive clinic. Or a defensive scramble, depending on how much coffee you've had. Montreal pulled their goalie with two minutes left, and the Caps spent most of that time diving in front of pucks. John Carlson, who played nearly 26 minutes last night, was a literal wall.
The Statistical Reality of the Caps' Current Run
If you look at the underlying numbers, the Capitals are defying some expectations. They aren't dominating the puck-possession metrics. In fact, they were outshot 31-24 last night.
But they’re winning.
Why? It’s goaltending and opportunistic scoring. Charlie Lindgren finished with 29 saves on 31 shots. That’s a .935 save percentage. You win games with that kind of production in the crease.
- Final Score: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2
- Power Play: 1-for-3
- Penalty Kill: 2-for-2
- Top Performer: Aliaksei Protas (1G, 1A)
Spencer Carbery has this team playing a very specific brand of hockey. It's not the high-flying, "Ovechkin scores three goals a night" era of 2010. It’s structured. It’s kind of boring at times, if we're being totally honest. But it’s effective. They are sitting comfortably in a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, which is arguably the toughest division in the NHL right now.
What This Means for the Rest of the Season
People keep waiting for the wheels to fall off. The roster is older than many of the rebuilding teams like the Flyers or the Devils. But the veteran presence of guys like Carlson and Ovechkin, mixed with the breakout seasons from McMichael and Protas, is creating a weirdly successful alchemy.
The big question remains: can Ovechkin hit the record? He stayed at 863 last night. He had four shots on goal, two of which were absolute rockets that Sam Montembeault somehow kept out. He’s frustrated, you can see it in his body language sometimes, but the win keeps the locker room light.
If you’re tracking the score of the capitals game regularly, you’ll notice a trend. They aren't winning by four goals. They are winning by one. They are grinding out points.
It’s stressful for fans. It’s great for the standings.
Looking ahead, the schedule doesn't get any easier. They head out on a road trip starting tomorrow, and playing away from the DMV has been a bit of a challenge this year. They need to find a way to generate more five-on-five offense. Relying on the power play and elite goaltending is a dangerous game to play once you hit the postseason.
Actionable Takeaways for Caps Fans
If you want to keep up with the team without constantly refreshing a search page, there are a few things you should do. First, pay attention to the line pairings. Carbery has been shuffling the bottom six, and that’s where the grit is coming from. Second, watch the injury report. Jakob Chychrun has been a massive addition to the blue line, and keeping him healthy is the key to their transition game.
Next Steps for Following the Team:
Check the morning skate reports on social media before the next game. Lineup changes are usually announced about two hours before puck drop. If Lindgren is starting back-to-back, expect a slightly more defensive shell. If Logan Thompson gets the nod, the pace might be a bit faster.
Keep an eye on the goal differential too. Right now, the Capitals are playing "close to the vest" hockey. As long as they stay on the right side of these one-goal games, the playoff drought is a thing of the past.
The next game is tomorrow night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It's the classic Sid vs. Ovi matchup, and regardless of the standings, those games always play out like it’s 2009 all over again.