The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-3 in a thrilling Game 3, with a bench brawl, goalie injuries, and a sold-out crowd at Bell Centre.
In a high-energy Game 3 that had fans at the Bell Centre buzzing, the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 6-3 on Friday night, with drama unfolding at every turn. From a fiery bench brawl to both teams’ starting goalies being sidelined with injuries, this game was packed with excitement and intensity.
The Canadiens, trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven playoff series, managed to claw back with a vengeance. Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist, while Christian Dvorak, Nick Suzuki, Alexandre Carrier, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Alex Newhook all contributed to Montreal’s stunning victory, bringing the series to 2-1 in Washington’s favor.
A Dramatic Finish: Injuries and Brawls Fuel Tensions
The game’s electric atmosphere was matched by its physicality. Sam Montembeault, who had been playing admirably, stopped 11 of 13 shots before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury. Jakub Dobes, the rookie goalie, stepped in to save seven of eight shots the rest of the way, ensuring Montreal’s lead was never challenged.
Meanwhile, Washington’s Logan Thompson faced heavy pressure and left the game after an injury in the third period, following a collision with Dylan Strome. Backup goalie Charlie Lindgren came in, but by then, the Canadiens had already taken control.
The game reached a boiling point late in the second period, when a physical altercation between Washington’s Tom Wilson and Montreal’s Josh Anderson turned into a full-blown bench brawl. Anderson was thrown backward into Washington’s open bench, and Wilson followed him in, shoving past a linesman to continue the altercation. The ensuing fight saw both Wilson and Anderson receive 10-minute misconducts and minor penalties for roughing, while Arber Xhekaj and Lars Eller received offsetting penalties for roughing as well.
Caufield, Dvorak, and Slafkovsky Lead the Charge
The action didn’t stop with the brawl. Caufield’s goal, scored with just nine seconds left in the second period, came off an interception and a beautiful cross-ice feed from Lane Hutson, making it 3-2 for Montreal. Washington responded quickly in the third period, with Alex Ovechkin tying the game just 2:39 into the period. But the Canadiens were ready to answer back.
Dvorak scored at 4:17, thanks to a deflected shot off Duhaime, putting Montreal ahead once again. Shortly after, Slafkovsky slotted in a pass from Caufield, making it 5-3 as Thompson exited in clear pain. Finally, Newhook sealed the victory with a power-play goal at 17:35, sending the Bell Centre into a frenzy of celebration.
A Historic Atmosphere at the Bell Centre
The Bell Centre was at its loudest since 2017, with a full crowd of Canadiens faithful chanting “Go Habs Go!” before the puck even dropped. Fans were amped up, waving flags, and making sure their presence was felt throughout the game. Their enthusiasm was palpable as they cheered on their team to a much-needed victory.
The energy in the building hit a peak when McMichael opened the scoring for Washington just 3:20 into the game. But Montreal was quick to respond, with Carrier’s late first-period goal tying things up. The lead changed hands several times, but the Canadiens’ offensive pressure and resilience in the face of adversity proved to be the deciding factor.
Lineup Changes and Future Prospects
Head coach Martin St. Louis made several lineup changes for Game 3, with Kasperi Kapanen replacing Patrik Laine, who was sidelined with an upper-body injury. Arber Xhekaj also returned to the lineup in place of Jayden Struble. Laine’s injury was a significant blow, as he had been a key player in previous games.
Washington, meanwhile, continued to miss the towering Aliaksei Protas, who had been out since April 4 with a skate cut on his foot. Despite his absence, the Capitals had managed to win the first two games of the series, but Montreal’s gritty play in Game 3 gave them the confidence they needed going into Game 4 on Sunday.
Looking Ahead to Game 4
The Canadiens’ win in Game 3 has shifted the momentum of the series. As the team heads back to the Bell Centre for Game 4, they will look to carry the energy and success from this thrilling victory into another must-win game.
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire as we continue to bring you the latest updates and in-depth analysis from the Montreal Canadiens’ playoff journey. Whether it’s player performances, injury updates, or game highlights, we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
