The Washington Capitals look to snap a two-game slide when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday in the second game of a back-to-back for both sides.
The Capitals dropped their second straight game Tuesday, a 4-2 loss to the host Carolina Hurricanes. On Sunday, Washington was handed a 5-3 defeat by the visiting Seattle Kraken. The two setbacks have come after the Capitals won three of their first four games.
They scored a total of 14 goals in those four games but have managed just five in their two most recent losses.
“It’s a hard league, and everyone here knows it,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “It’s such a fine line and we’re going to have to learn as a group. We’ve got a lot of young players who are learning to play in this league for the first time.”
Boone Jenner opened the scoring in the first period with his third of the season, tying him with Alex Tuch for the team lead. Defenseman Justin Holl put the Capitals ahead 2-1 six and a half minutes into the second period, but the Hurricanes tied it late in the frame before tallying twice in the third to pull away.
Washington center Dylan Strome felt the team relied too much on goaltender Logan Thompson against Carolina. That’s something they’ll aim to improve on against Montreal, with Charlie Lindgren (2.08 goals-against average, .931 save percentage after one game) expected in goal.
“We’ve got to work on getting pucks out and sustaining some pressure, especially against a team like this,” Strome said. “When (the Hurricanes) get in that spin cycle, it’s tough to kind of get out of, and you saw it in the second period there. It felt we were in our own end most of the period, and, obviously, penalties. We’ve got to stay out of the box.”
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are coming off their second straight shootout victory at home, defeating the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Tuesday. Montreal held a 3-1 lead after two periods, but two quick goals from Buffalo early in the third forced overtime.
“I really liked our defensive game,” Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier said. “I thought we played well defensively for most of the game. Now we have to build off that and repeat it Wednesday night in Washington.”
Carrier played a key role in that effort, which required others to step up with Mike Matheson injured. In the closing seconds of overtime and with the Sabres on a power play, Carrier put himself in front of a 94-mph shot from Tage Thompson to keep the period scoreless, which led to the shootout.
“When it’s Game 6 of the season, to see him sell out (against) a guy who’s got a pretty hard shot like that, I think it just brings everyone into the fight,” goalie Jacob Fowler said. “You love to see that effort. We definitely love when he blocks shots like that.”
Jakub Dobes will get the nod for Montreal in the second half of the back-to-back, making his first appearance since Oct. 6. Dobes started each of the Canadiens’ first three games, but after winning the season opener, he struggled in the next two, allowing 11 goals.
He enters Wednesday’s tilt with a 4.43 GAA and .856 save percentage — well off his numbers from last season of 2.78 and .901, respectively.