This edition of the Hidden Game is dedicated to the incomparable Alex Ovechkin. Who else?
At age 40, the Washington Capitals’ captain scored three goals — one into an empty net — in the visiting team’s 8-4 dismantling of the Canadiens on Thursday night at the Bell Centre. It was the first meeting between the teams since Washington defeated Montreal in five games in the playoffs’ opening round last season.
Ovechkin has goals in four consecutive games and continues feasting on Montreal. He has 42 career goals in 61 games against the Canadiens.
We normally don’t place much emphasis on empty-net goals, but Ovechkin’s shot, from 180 feet, was dead centre. How many other players could duplicate that?
But can’t a guy earning US$9 million this season afford a tube of Grecian Formula? Talk about premature grey.
Did we mention the Capitals played Wednesday night at home, outscoring Edmonton 7-4, while the Canadiens were resting?
Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault watches from the bench after being pulled from the game against the Washington Capitals during the second period in Montreal on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
Where’s Patrick Chevrefils when you need him?: You might remember the Montreal police officer, who was called upon to dress — but not play — as the emergency goalie during last season’s playoffs following an injury to Samuel Montembeault. We bring his name up because the Canadiens’ goalies continue to struggle. Montembeault started on Thursday, but was removed less than four minutes into the second period after allowing three goals on 10 shots. That works out to a .700 save percentage. He was beaten on the first shot he faced. Jakub Dobes, his replacement, was only marginally better. He allowed four goals on 25 shots for a .840 save percentage.
News you need (Part I): Washington has earned at least a point in 23 of 25 games against the Canadiens (20-2-3) dating back to Nov. 28, 2009.
News you need (Part II): The Canadiens have played 20 games and in half of those they’ve allowed at least four goals.
Strange, but true (Part I): The teams combined for nine penalties in the first period. Then? Nothing until the final minute of the third period, when unsportsmanlike conduct minors were assessed to Josh Anderson and Ryan Leonard.
Red Fisher never dealt in rumours: There has been some speculation Nashville is willing to unload 35-year-old Steven Stamkos to the Canadiens in a trade. We’re not really sure why Montreal would be interested in a guy who has four goals and an assist in 20 games, and is minus-8? But the Predators had two scouts in attendance. Stamkos and Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis were once linemates in Tampa Bay, for what that’s worth?
Great moments in officiating (Part I): In the game’s sixth minute, Brandon Duhaime dumped Nick Suzuki. No penalty was called. Seconds later, Mike Matheson tripped Ethen Frank. Yeah, you guessed it.
What took so long?: There was a long video review of the Canadiens’ opening goal — the first of the season by Brendan Gallagher. It took us about three seconds to determine the puck had crossed the goal line. And that was without the benefit of a replay.
Great moments in officiating (Part II): In the final minute of the opening period, Ovechkin and Anderson received minor penalties. Ovechkin slashed Anderson, who retaliated with a cross-check. Dylan Strome immediately intervened, coming to Ovechkin’s aid and putting a headlock on Anderson. Somehow, no penalty was called for that gesture.
Great moments in officiating (Part III): In the 15th minute of the second period, the notorious Tom Wilson skated about 50 feet to dismantle Jake Evans with a right elbow. Evans’s stick went flying. Evans, who has suffered concussions before, retreated to the dressing room not long after and didn’t return. If the Alouettes had hit Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris half as hard last Sunday, they might have won the Grey Cup.
Dumbest thing we’ve heard in a while: “Wilson sucks” from the stands in the second period. If the guy played for the Canadiens, everyone would love him.
Pass of the night: Matheson to Joe Veleno on the Canadiens’ second goal — the first by the centre since signing with Montreal last summer. Guess he was overdue.
Momentum … schmomentum: Thirty-eight seconds after Jakob Chychrun scored Washington’s fourth goal, Suzuki responded.
Giveaway of the night: Veleno on Washington’s fifth goal, late in the second period, by Sonny Milano.
Canadiens’ Lane Hutson fans on a shot at Washington Capitals’ Charlie Lindgren in Montreal on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
Strange, but true (Part II): The Capitals have scored 15 goals in their last two games. But in the third period, after Lane Hutson blew a tire and the visitors had a three-on-one advantage, they squandered the opportunity.
They don’t pay him to play defence: Suzuki was the only defender back on the Capitals’ sixth goal, scored off a two-on-one break. The Canadiens’ captain didn’t look good on the play.
It’s a crowded leaderboard: Noah Dobson, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov all were minus-3.
Quick stats: Ovechkin’s three goals were scored on three shots. Cole Caufield had eight shots, while Veleno had four. Zachary Bolduc had five hits, one more than Anderson.
They said it: “I think it’s a fine line (between) where our game was maybe a month ago to where it is now,” Gallagher said. “There’s work to be done. That’s where we’re at. We felt like the Columbus game (last Monday) was hopefully a step in the right direction. We took a step back tonight. There’s lapses in our defensive game right now. There’s a lot more we can do for (our goalies). We’re not playing to our identity. We’ve gotten away from that.”
“I thought (Wilson’s hit) was a bit of a charge,” Suzuki said. “It seemed like it was pretty high. The refs told me they didn’t see it that way. Obviously, he plays a physical style. Our coaches seemed to think it should have been a penalty.”
“It’s been too many (defensive breakdowns),” Matheson said. “And too many big ones. It’s not a shot from the outside. When we are breaking down it’s a pretty Grade-A chance. That’s a tough way to win if you’re doing that on a regular basis.”
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