After Ethan Frank recorded two third-period goals, Connor McMichael scored with 37.6 seconds left in overtime, as the host Washington Capitals rallied from a 2-0 deficit, to beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Montreal’s Sam Montembeault was solidly stout while making 39 saves, but Washington finally got to him when Matt Roy’s shot deflected in off teammate Frank’s skate at 5:06 into the third period to make it a 2-1 game. Then, with 1:54 remaining in regulation, Frank was again in the right place, as he redirected Rasmus Sandin’s shot through traffic to tie the contest.
After Montembeault made a host of key saves in the extra period, including against Frank, the Capitals’ Dylan Strome sent a puck toward the net, where McMichael eventually corralled the puck and sent it in to complete the comeback.
Logan Thompson made 24 saves for Washington, which is 7-8-4 and not won back-to-back contests since a six-game winning streak from Nov. 24-Dec. 3.
Montreal, which didn’t arrive at its hotel until roughly 3 a.m. Eastern time after winning 6-3 over Vancouver Monday, opened the scoring 8:14 into this contest. Despite being short-handed, Josh Anderson grabbed the puck off a Washington turnover in the Canadiens zone, then skated down the left wing via a 2-on-1, kept the puck and delivered a snap shot past Thompson.
It was Anderson’s first game since Jan. 1, while dealing with an upper-body injury.
The Canadiens went ahead 2-0 at 7:40 into the second period, Zack Bolduc sent a behind-the-net pass to Phillip Danault, who dished the puck into the outside of the mid-slot for Brendan Gallagher to successfully wrist home.
The Canadiens, who are in the mix for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, entered this contest winners in four of the previous five and nine of 13.
Sandin assisted all three goals for Washington, which was again without key contributors Tom Wilson (lower-body injury), Justin Sourdif (upper-body injury) and Jakob Chychrun (illness).
–Field Level Media
