Canadiens beat Capitals 6-3 in electric Game 3 featuring bench brawl, goalie injuries

The Montreal Canadiens put on a dominating performance in Game 3 against the Washington Capitals, coming out on top with a 6-3 victory. Cole Caufield led the charge with a goal and an assist, while Christian Dvorak, Nick Suzuki, Alexandre Carrier, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Alex Newhook also found the back of the net to cut Washington’s series lead to 2-1.

The game was not without its drama, as both starting goalies, Sam Montembeault and Logan Thompson, were forced to leave the game due to injuries. Montembeault exited in the second period, with rookie Jakub Dobes stepping in to finish the game. Thompson, on the other hand, had to be helped off the ice after a collision with teammate Dylan Strome, leading to backup Charlie Lindgren taking over in net.

A brawl between Capitals forward Tom Wilson and Canadiens’ Josh Anderson added to the intensity of the game, spilling into Washington’s bench at the end of the second period. Both players received misconducts and minor penalties for their involvement.

Despite the physicality and drama, Caufield’s late goal in the second period gave Montreal a 3-2 lead heading into the third. Although Alex Ovechkin managed to tie the game early in the final period, goals from Dvorak, Slafkovsky, and Newhook secured the win for the Canadiens.

The sold-out crowd at the Bell Centre was electric, with fans chanting “Go Habs Go” and providing a raucous atmosphere throughout the game. The win marks Montreal’s first playoff game with a full-capacity crowd since 2017.

Looking ahead, Game 4 is set to take place back at the Bell Centre on Sunday evening. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis made some lineup changes for Game 3, with Oliver Kapanen and Arber Xhekaj stepping in for Patrik Laine and Jayden Struble, respectively.

In other playoff action on Friday night, the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils also picked up crucial wins to narrow their series deficits to 2-1. The Oilers defeated the L.A. Kings 7-4, while the Devils notched a 3-2 double-overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The excitement and intensity of the NHL playoffs are in full swing, with each game bringing new twists and turns as the quest for the Stanley Cup continues. Fans can expect more thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments as the postseason unfolds.