Caps rout Montreal, 9-2

In Washington, DC, the Capitals posted 9-2 thrashing of the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Alex Ovechkin hit for a hat trick as the Caps got progressively more aggressive in the game scoring  twice in the first, three time in the middle frame, and four more in the third period.

“Great start by us,” Ovechkin said. “I think we created as many chances as we can.”

Charlie Lindgren made 31 saves in the Caps win.

“We all knew we had to have a bounce-back game after last game (4-3 overtime loss to Ottawa Senators on Thursday),” Lindgren said. “I don’t think anyone was really happy with [that] game. I thought we played pretty well tonight. Happy with two points.”

Cole Caufield was the only striker for the Habs, he scored both Canadiens goals in the second period.

“You’ve got to play a full 60 minutes. We’re playing five, 10 and then it slips away,” Caufield said. “So obviously again a learning experience, but you can look at these teams and learn from them and how they do play a full 60. And when they slip, they always find their game, so it’s something we can look to build on, and hopefully sooner rather than later.”

The Caps took a 2-0 lead in the first on strikes from Erik Gustafsson and Garnet Hathaway.

“He made a great pass there, Kuznetsov, so it was an open net for me, but it’s fun, you know? It’s fun to play right now,” said Gustafsson. “Today we had a great game.”

After  scored his first in the second period, Nic Dowd and Ovechkin replied for a 4-1 lead.

Dylan Strome replied to Caufield;s second for a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.

The third period was literally more of the same for the Caps.

“I thought the second half of the first, I thought we were coming, and the second period I thought it was a really good period for us,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “And you lose the period, it’s a little deflating.”

Ovechkin scored twice in the third, and Marcus Johansson and Anthony Mantha  added single markers for the 9-2 final.

Jake Allen made 31 saves.

“It’s not fun to go through, but we have to find solutions, and that’s our challenge and that’s what we’re tasked with right now, and I think as a group we’re going to find out who we can count on,” Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher said. “You hope that’s everyone, you believe that’s everyone, and we’re going to have to find a way to get through this together.”