The Washington Capitals are up 2-0 in their first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens. Now the series turns to Bell Centre in Montreal where it’s expected to be super loud with 22k people in attendance.

The Capitals will go with the same lineup (no Protas) and return Logan Thompson, who has been tremendous in this series, back between the pipes. The Canadiens, who will be desperate to not go down 3-0, are inserting heavyweight enforcer Arber Xhekaj for Game 3. Patrik Laine is out due to a lower-body injury.

Puck drop for Game 3 is at 7:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe B and Alan May have the call. Craig Laughlin is missing the games in Montreal due to his health not being “100%.” Let’s go Caps!

Also, this is worth a read.

Alex Ovechkin leads the Capitals in playoff hits at age 39: ‘They don’t make them like him anymore’

Lines
Washington Capitals

Ovechkin

Strome

Beauvillier

Montreal Canadiens

Caufield

Suzuki

Slafkovsky

Anderson

Dvorak

Gallagher

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

The Canadiens PA announcer is asking fans to respect both national anthems. Honestly, they have my permission to boo if they want to.

Puck is dropped. Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh and Roy-Sandin get the start for the Capitals.

It is LOUD.

Logan Thompson already being serenaded by the crowd with THOMP-SON chants.

Josh Anderson with the game’s first shot, wide open at the top of the circles, but Thompson makes the save.

Beauvillier turnover (to be fair, it was a tough pass by Alex Alexyev) almost ends up in the back of the Caps net as Cole Caufield rifles a huge one-timer short side that Thompson stops.

🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (3). Assists: M. Roy (1), R. Sandin (1). Time: 03:20.

McMichael redirects a Matt Roy indirect shot past Montembault from the far post. The Canadiens were running around looking for big hits, allowing the Caps to take advantage. It’s no longer loud in Belle Centre.

Canadiens first line hemming the Caps in the zone, but Thompson makes several huge saves on Slafkovsky.

Ryan Leonard hauls down a Canadiens player at center ice after the whistle and there’s a scrum. Alex Alexeyev who is missing three teeth is going at it with David Savard.

Leonard going to the box at 7:31 for unsportsmanlike conduct on Jake Evans.

Senators power play.

Capitals kill Senators power play.

Leonard leaves the penalty box, makes a move down the right wing and gets hauled down by Alex Newhook at 9:47.

Capitals power play.

Montembault robs Tom Wilson at the far post after a perfect cross-crease pass by Dylan Strome.

Thompson turns the puck over behind the net and Josh Anderson nearly beats him shorthanded. Whoa.

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