February 28, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhoek (15) faces Washington Capitals forward Dylan Strome (17) during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Image The Washington Capitals will look to rebound from a rare fumble and extend their home winning streak to six games on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth.
Superstar captain Alex Ovechkin snapped a seven-game goal drought with two goals in Washington’s 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Ovechkin passed Tom Wilson and regained the team lead in goals (24) and points (50) for the Capitals, who fell for the second time in the last eight games.
“Some of the things we did Saturday, I didn’t mind,” Washington coach Spencer Carvery said. “I thought we produced enough offensively, and we made too many critical mistakes to not be able to sustain it.”
Anthony Beauvillier had two assists and Dylan Strome had one assist for the Capitals.
“I still think our game is in a good spot, and we need to keep building on the wins,” Strome said. “Obviously we’re going to need some help because we’ve played more games than others, but we’ve got to keep building up the wins. … We’ll find a way to bounce back on Tuesday and go from there.”
Washington would be wise to find a spark for its ailing power play. The Capitals went 0-for-4 with the man advantage on Saturday and are 0-for-10 on the power play in three games since returning from the Olympic break.
“I know they’re frustrated. Guys, they want to score and they want to produce, especially from (Strome), (Ovechkin), (defenseman Jakob Chychrun) because they understand that’s an important part of their identity and role and utilizing the power play,” Carbery said. “It’s frustrating when they don’t. I understand.”
Washington’s power play has converted at a paltry 15.5% this season, 31st out of 32 teams in the NHL.
Utah isn’t singing happy songs after being shut out for the fifth time this season in a 4-0 loss to the struggling Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
Karel Vejmelka made 24 saves for Mammoth, who has lost two of three games since returning from the Olympic break.
“I thought we were disconnected from the entire ice,” said Utah’s Mikhail Sergachev. “I felt disconnected with the puck, without the puck, on breakouts and (offensive zone) plays.”
The Mammoths will look to be even more intense when they begin a five-game road trip in the nation’s capital. Utah remains atop the wild card spot in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Seattle Kraken and four points ahead of the bubble.
“We need two points every night and it’s a very competitive game, we have to win that game,” Mammoth coach Andre Turini said. “We have to take that game and learn from it and make sure it doesn’t happen again because it costs us big time. If that’s what the game is for, that’s what it is, but there’s no reason for us to play like that.”
Dylan Guenther leads Utah with 27 goals, while captain Clayton Keller holds club highs in assists (40) and points (58).
–Field level media
