HOLTBY HOLDS OFF HABS
Oshie scores twice in Capitals’ win
The skinny: Braden Holtby and T.J. Oshie made the difference as the Washington Capitals won 3-2 Thursday night at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens outshot the visitors 35-19 but Holtby made 33 saves, including a game-saver on Alex Galchenyuk with 6:31 left in the third period. Oshie scored his seventh and eighth goals and Mike Condon didn’t have a chance on the game winner as Oshie deflected Karl Alzner’s shot from the point at 8:17 of the third period. It was the sixth consecutive win for Washington, which moved into second place in the Eastern Conference with 37 points, four points behind Montreal.
Killer offence: The Canadiens’ penalty-killing unit tied the game at 2-2 when Brian Flynn scored a short-handed goal at 2:30 of the third period. Holtby stopped Paul Byron in a short-handed attempt but Byron sent Flynn on a breakaway the next time down the ice and Flynn drew Holtby out with a fake to the backhand then shot with his forehand. It was the Canadiens’ sixth short-handed goal this season.
Jumping on top: The Capitals took a 1-0 lead at 2:26 of the first period when Tom Wilson scored his second goal of the season. Nathan Beaulieu’s clearing attempt from behind the net was intercepted along the side boards by Brooks Laich, and he found Wilson alone in front. Both goaltenders came up with big saves in the first period. Condon made a leg save on Oshie after a set-up by Alex Ovechkin while Holtby made two big saves on Max Pacioretty. The Canadiens outshot the Capitals 10-6 and had another 15 shots blocked in the first period.
Unlucky bounce: The Canadiens dominated the second period but fell behind 2-1 when Oshie scored at 19:16. Condon got his blocker on Oshie’s shot from the point but the rebound went into the air and went in off the goaltender’s arm. Holtby kept Montreal at bay before Lars Eller tied the score at 12:08, two seconds after the expiration of a penalty to Taylor Chorney. Alex Galchenyuk found Eller in front and he used some fancy stick work to put the puck through Holtby’s pads. The Canadiens were outshooting Washington 14-1 in the period when Eller scored. Andrei Markov hit a post early in the period and Holtby stopped Max Pacioretty on a breakaway and then made a glove save on Sven Andrighetto on a 2-on-1 break with Galchenyuk.
Bournival sent down: Michaël Bournival, who has been recovering from the effects of a concussion he suffered last season, cleared waivers at noon Thursday and was assigned to the St. John’s Ice Caps.
What’s next: The Canadiens may feel a bit lonely as they close out the week Saturday in Carolina (7 p.m., City, TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690). The Hurricanes are averaging fewer than 11,000 fans a game. The Canadiens’ next home game is Wednesday against the Boston Bruins.