Habs pushed to the brink in 5-2 loss to the Capitals

The Washington Capitals emerged victorious in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, securing a 5-2 win with an impressive performance on Sunday. Andrew Mangiapane played a crucial role in the victory, scoring the go-ahead goal with just 3:37 remaining in the third period.

Mangiapane’s goal, a powerful shot that beat Montreal’s goaltender Jakub Dobes glove side, gave the Capitals a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Brandon Duhaime also made significant contributions to the Capitals’ win, scoring twice including an empty-net goal with 2:39 left in the game. Dylan Strome added a goal and an assist, while Tom Wilson sealed the victory with a second empty-netter.

Despite trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Capitals showed resilience and determination to secure the win. Logan Thompson, who made 16 saves after exiting with an injury late in Game 3, delivered a solid performance in goal for Washington. Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky scored for Montreal, with Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov providing two assists each.

Dobes, making his first career playoff start, stopped 21 shots for the Canadiens. He replaced the injured starter Sam Montembeault midway through Game 2, with Montembeault considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The Canadiens had won Game 3 in a chaotic matchup that featured a bench brawl and injuries to both starting goalies.

Game 4 saw Montreal dominating the special teams battle, going 2-for-4 on the power play while killing off five penalties. Dobes made a spectacular blocker save on John Carlson during a 5-on-3 penalty kill, showcasing his skill and determination. Slafkovsky tied the game on the power play in the second period, with Caufield adding another power-play goal to give Montreal a temporary lead.

The Bell Centre was electrified by the passionate fans, with former Canadien P.K. Subban among those in attendance. The atmosphere was intense, with chants of “Go! Habs Go!” and “Ole, Ole, Ole!” delaying the national anthems. Strome opened the scoring for Washington early in the second period, capitalizing on mistakes by the Canadiens to give his team the lead.

The Capitals’ victory sets up Game 5, which will take place at Capital One Arena in Washington. The Canadiens recalled Cayden Primeau as a backup goaltender for the game, with local police officer Patrick Cheverfils serving as an emergency backup. Wilson’s crybaby gesture towards the Canadiens in Game 2 went viral, with the Capitals forward clarifying that it was directed at one individual player.

Overall, the Capitals’ strong performance in Game 4 sets the stage for an exciting continuation of the playoff series. Both teams will be looking to gain the upper hand in the upcoming games as they battle for a spot in the next round of the playoffs.