February 28, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in Game 1 at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Image Cole Caufield scored twice in the first period and the Canadiens beat the Washington Capitals 6-2 in Montreal on Saturday night.
Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens, who have had a seven-game point streak (5-0-2). Jakub Dobes has 27 saves and improves to 9-0-2 in his last 11 starts.
Alex Ovechkin scored both goals for the Capitals, who have won their third straight game. Anthony Beauvillier had two assists and Charlie Lindgren made 19 saves for Washington. Washington played for the second straight time after winning 3-2 at home against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.
The Capitals went 0-for-4 on the power play after going 0-for-5 on Friday. Montreal was 0-for-3.
Caufield made it 1-0 for the Canadiens just 30 seconds into the game when he intercepted a pass from Jakob Chychrun, skated for a breakaway and then beat Lindgren with a wrist shot.
Ovechkin tied the score at 13:16. Declan Chisholm’s shot was saved by Dobes, but he was unable to control the rebound and Ovechkin knocked in the loose puck at the right post.
Caufield made it 2-1 at 14:19 when he backhanded a loose puck off the right post after Lindgren blocked Jayden Struble’s point shot.
Mike Matheson increased the lead to 3-1 at 12:22 of the second when he took a pass from Zachary Bolduc, skated down the open slot and beat the side of Lindgren’s glove with a wrist shot.
After Washington’s Aliaksei Protas hit the post, Suzuki collected the rebound, skated to the Washington end and fed Kirby Dach, who scored a one-timer from the slot to make it 4-1 at 16:34.
Ovechkin put the Capitals up 4-2 at 12:12 of the third when he took a pass from Dylan Strome and scored in the low slot.
Suzuki hit a backhand into an empty net at 16:44 to make it 5-2, and Jake Evans sent a shot nearly the length of the ice into an empty net for a shorthanded goal on a 6-on-4 at 18:35.
–Field level media
