This edition of the Hidden Game is dedicated to Cole Caufield.
Not only did Caufield score twice in the first period, leading the Canadiens to a 6-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, he had a team-leading five shots — four alone in the first period — while increasing his team-leading goal total to 35.
Caufield opened the scoring after only 30 seconds after blocking a Jakob Chychrun shot. It was the fastest goal to open a game by a Montreal player since Josh Anderson scored 23 seconds last March 28 during a 4-1 loss at Carolina. Caufield now has scored 15 times on Saturday this season.
It seems only a matter of time before Caufield becomes the first Canadiens player to score 40 goals since Vincent Damphousse during the 1993-94 campaign. Caufield is on pace to score 49 goals this season. It would be a pity if he doesn’t get 50.
Life begins at 40: If this was the final appearance in Montreal for Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin — and if you paid hundreds of dollars for that privilege — he went out in style. He scored both Washington goals and had six shots on net. Who cares if his goal differential was minus-2 on this night? Oddly enough, Ovechkin had gone seven games without scoring. Those with good memories will remember Ovechkin scored three times against the Canadiens in an 8-4 victory back on Nov. 20. He leads the Capitals this season with 24 goals. In his career, Ovechkin has scored 44 goals in 63 games against Montreal. We wouldn’t be disappointed if he returns at age 41.
The secret is out: The Canadiens were due to beat Washington after losing twice to the visitors this season — not to mention being eliminated by the Capitals in five games in the opening-round of last season’s playoffs. How did they do it? Simple. They kept Ethen Frank off the scoresheet. Frank, a fourth-line winger, had four goals and six points against the Canadiens this season. That included two goals and two assists back in November.
News you need (Part I): Washington had won three straight at Montreal and was 7-2-1 in its last 10 overall.
News you need (Part II): Noah Dobson’s six-game point streak came to an end against Washington.
Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki (14) tries to tip the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Sieve of the night: Former Canadiens’ goaltender Charlie Lindgren was beaten on the first, fifth, 13th and 15th shots he faced. The other two Montreal goals were scored into an empty net. His save percentage was .826. Lindgren had been 4-1-0 in his last six games against the Canadiens. The Capitals played Friday night at home against Vegas, with Logan Thompson in net. We’ve never understood why netminders can’t play back-to-back games.
News you need (Part III): This was Lindgren’s first game in nearly a month, since defeating Detroit on Jan. 29. And it showed.
Setting the tone: Before the game was one minute old, Anderson took Martin Fehervary heavily into the end boards.
Momentum … schmomentum: Only 63 seconds after Ovechkin tied the score, Caufield restored the Canadiens’ lead.
Strange, but true: The Capitals started the second period quickly, with five shots through three minutes. But they didn’t register another shot until 14:42. The Canadiens didn’t get their first shot in the period until 5:30. Nick Suzuki was stopped on a breakaway — one of the few saves by Lindgren.
Washington Capitals’ Nic Dowd (26) tries to face wash Canadiens’ Kirby Dach in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
How many times does this happen: Aliaksei Protas hit the post in the second period. And then, on the ensuing rush, Kirby Dach scored the Canadiens’ fourth goal.
Pass of the night: Suzuki to Dach.
News you need (Part IV): While the Canadiens have struggled in the second period, they outscored Washington 2-0, reducing their season goal deficit to 73-66.
Down goes Frazier: Dobson was penalized for tripping Pierre-Luc Dubois in the third period. We’ve never seen a guy 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds go down so easily.
Empty-net goal of the night: Suzuki had his back to the net and, while being taken into the boards, scored on a backhand.
Unsung hero: Jake Evans blocked two shots while Washington had the man-advantage — then scored into the empty net to complete the carnage. Canadiens players stood on the bench, banging their sticks against the boards, following both blocks.
Next time, decline the penalty (Part I): The Canadiens went 0-for-3 on the power play.
Next time, decline the penalty (Part II): Washington went 0-4 with the man-advantage while allowing Evans’ short-handed goal. The Capitals squandered five power plays against Vegas 24 hours earlier and have the NHL’s second-worst power play, with 29 goals in 187 attempts.
Quick stats: Suzuki and Mike Matheson were both plus-4. While Matheson scored once and had three shots, he was also guilty of five giveaways. Kaiden Guhle blocked three shots. Zachary Bolduc, back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch against the New York Islanders, had three hits and an assist. But he has now gone 21 games without scoring. Jakub Dobes’ save percentage was .931. Dobes, who continues establishing himself as the Canadiens’ top goalie, improved to 9-0-2 in his last 11 games. The Canadiens won 50 per cent of their faceoffs, but were outhit 20-13.
They said it: “We played really well throughout the three periods,” Dobes said. “I actually felt like (practising) for the last 10 days made me even better. I felt ready for the game. Definitely the first two minutes are hard, but I felt pretty comfortable.”
“I wanted two more goals,” Caufield said. “It was a good start. Obviously, we needed that tonight. I felt the puck was finding me early. It was pretty cool to get those two early. But getting chances is the most-important thing. We knew we needed to have a good start and play a full 60 minutes. My life pretty much every day is Saturday.”
“I think we tried to stay on our toes a bit more,” Suzuki said. “There were some points in the game where we probably were sitting a little too far back. Sometimes you get uncomfortable when you keep losing the lead and trying to be too safe.”
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