Capitals couldn't keep up with Habs

Behind a pair of goals from Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, the Canadiens downed the Washington Capitals by a final of 5-2.

Suzuki's goals came at 6:42 and 7:39 in the opening period to go up 2-0. Michael Pezzetta made it 3-0 at 13:07 and that would be the score after one. The Habs outshot the Caps 13-5.

At 6:03 the Caps got on the board. Martin Fehervary set up Dylan Strome who fed a pass across the way to Alex Ovechkin for the finish. It was his 10th goal of the season and 832nd of his career.

It was 3-1 after two and the Caps outshot the Habs 16-5 in the second. Slafkovsky struck at 11:19 in the third. Rasmus Sandin cut the deficit to two at 11:41. John Carlson and Dylan Strome had the assists. Slafkovsky's second goal came on the power play at 14:01.

Charlie Lindgren got the nod in net but was pulled with about seven minutes to go in the first for Darcy Kuemper. It came after Pezzetta made it 3-0. Spencer Carbery explained his reasoning behind pulling Lindgren via Tarik El-Bashir.

"“Just change the momentum. The chances that we give up, it’s the same old story. We just made some massive mistakes that unfortunately for us are just happening to different guys each night. It’s tough.”"

- Capitals coach Spencer Carbery

It's clear that if they don't get their act together, this will be anohter lost season and that will get some Caps fans testy. But it's also bad overall. Local ratings aren't good right now in viewership and we won't comment any further on the matter.

At the same time it doesn't take an Albert Einstein to figure out that there's more to life around town than sports. And if the Nationals or Commanders get good soon, that may be more bad news for the local hockey club.