March 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Washington Capitals left wing Connor McMichael (24) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Calgary Flames in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Image Connor McMichael’s second goal broke a three-game tie, and the host Washington Capitals recovered after blowing a three-goal lead to beat the Calgary Flames 7-3 on Monday.
Justin Sourdif had a goal in the 3-point game and Hendrix Lapierre had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have lost their third straight game. Washington’s Tom Wilson, Eden Frank and Ryan Leonard each added a goal, and goalie Logan Thompson made 23 saves.
Washington is 11-2-1 in the last 14 meetings against Calgary.
Matvey Gridin, Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovic led the Flames, who had one win in six games (1-4-1). Goalie Devin Cooley stopped 22 shots.
After the Capitals gave up a 3-0 lead, McMichael found the mark from the slot with a power play goal to restore Washington’s lead at 10:52 of the final frame.
Sourdif extended Washington’s edge 23 seconds later thanks to a right faceoff dot shot that hit a defender and bounced into the cage.
Frank added an empty-net goal at 17:14 and Leonard rounded out the scoring with a breakthrough goal in the final seconds.
The Capitals maintained a three-goal advantage after the first period. LaPierre opened the scoring at 2:45 by burying a long rebound opportunity, his third goal in three career games against the Flames.
Wilson doubled the lead with another long rebound goal, finding the mark from the left circle at 9:13 of the first.
McMichael converted an open opportunity from the slot at 17:43 of the opening frame to make it 3-0.
The Flames responded with three goals late in the second period. Gridin finished off a sharp opportunity from the bottom of the right circle to get Calgary on the board at 16:08.
Calgary then scored a pair of short-handed goals 76 seconds apart, the sixth-fastest in club history.
Coleman made it a one-goal deficit when he buried a breakaway opportunity at 17:39.
Sharangovich tied up the collision, finishing off a golden opportunity that was set up when Joel Farabee stole the puck.
–Field level media
