The Washington Capitals’ effort in their Friday night loss over the Montreal Canadiens was uneven, and in the year 2025 that’s no longer enough to beat the Montreal Canadiens.
Jakub Chychrun gave the Caps an early lead with a power-play goal down the middle. Juraj Slafkovsky found Cole Caufield open in front of a yawning net to tie the game two minutes later.
The second period was miserable, but the Habs only earned one goal from it: a gimme from Josh Anderson after a turnover by Rasmus Sandin.
Ethen Frank earned his first NHL point in his first NHL game, beating an icing and serving Lars Eller. That tied the game and forced overtime.
Nick Suzuki out-dueled Dylan Strome to end it.
Caps lose.
- Are the Habs good? They’re ranked fifth in expected-goals percentage over the last ten games. (The Caps are ranked 27th.) They’ve got some fun young players, and they’ve got a coach I love to hate in Martin St. Louis. It’d be awesome if that’s a good club again. Just not awesome if it’s against the Caps.
- That second period was horrific. The Habs outshot the Caps 18 attempts to seven. Just four shots on goal. This is a worsening trend, where the team cannot get cleanly out of their zone for long stretches. Lots of failed exits, lots of turnovers at the opposing blue line. It’s discouraging for the team’s postseason hopes, but more immediately it’s not fun to watch.
- Caps broadcaster Craig Laughlin will be getting heart surgery at the end of the month. I don’t have the words right now. I’m sure he’ll be fine – because I really need him to be fine.
- Goalie Charlie Lindgren got clipped by Nick Suzuki early in the second period. He tried to stay in the game, but (probably) concussion spotters felt otherwise. He did not return. That counts as the first time a Caps goalie has been pulled this season, apart from empty-net situations.
- Jakub Chychrun almost joined the injured list too. He blocked a shot by Joel Armia with his ankle, which must have stung. He missed some shifts but ultimately stayed in the game. He did not look happy about it though.
- Meanwhile, Chychrun’s goal is yet another from his preferred shooting range: middle of the ice, just above the faceoff dots. I’m pretty surprised he had an open lane there.
- Last point on Chychrun: Chris made me listen to Chychrun’s goal song, “You Say” by Steven Daigle’s sister Lauren. I don’t understand how this is a goal song. I don’t know understand how this is a song at all. If I were Adele I’d hire Shane Stant to take a tire iron to her.
You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
Oh, I believe
- what.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois had an uncharacteristically poor game. He started with an offensive-zone penalty, and that might have been the only time he sniffed that part of the ice.
- Canadiens center centre Kirby Dach was very close to slewfooting Tom Wilson. I suppose they both got lucky there.
- Ethen Frank made his NHL debut, and holy hell this kid is fast. He got busted for a tripping penalty deep in the offensive zone, a side effect of overeager forechecking, but he more than made up for it with a beautiful first NHL point. At light speed he beats the icing, keeps possession, then finds Lars Eller for game-tying goal.
- Rasmus Sandin did a turnover so bad it was funny. Ian called him Rasmus Fandin, a pun so bad it was funny.
Something is really funky with this team lately. That second period was just as bad as the worst 2023-24 Caps hockey. And that the team can fluctuate from actually good hockey to whatever that was and then back suggests it’s not a roster problem. I hope someone smart figures it out. This team is too good to fritter it away, and I resent watching the shot totals decline.
Maybe they’ll fare better against the Nashville Predators, probably the most underperforming team in the league this season. Them or New York. Basically any clubs run by Caps ex-coaches – those are the real bad ones right now.
