Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens Box Score on Oct 21, 2023

Cole Caufield scored 47 seconds into overtime and the Montreal Canadiens beat the visiting Washington Capitals 3-2 on Saturday night after losing a two-goal third-period lead.

The Canadiens caught the Capitals on a line change and Caufield took a pass from Nick Suzuki, skated into the zone and beat Darcy Kuemper from the left circle.

Sean Monahan had a goal and an assist, and Brendan Gallagher also scored for the Canadiens, who finished their three-game homestand 2-1. Jake Allen took a shutout into the third period and finished with 31 saves. Suzuki had two assists.

Dylan Strome scored a pair of third-period goals for the Capitals, who have lost three of four to open the season. Kuemper made 25 saves.

The Capitals tied it with a little more than two minutes remaining in regulation. Evgeny Kuznetsov carried into the offensive zone, skated behind the net and passed to Strome, who scored the equalizer from the bottom of the right circle.

Allen was especially sharp early, making a series of saves on Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin late in the first period and later robbing Anthony Mantha.

Monahan gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal with 1:05 remaining in the first period. Suzuki took a cross-ice pass from Caufield and passed in front, where Monahan tipped it past Kuemper.

The Canadiens increased the lead to 2-0 at 9:50 of the second period. Monahan got around Capitals defenseman Hardy Haman Aktell and slid the puck into the crease, where Gallagher, crashing the net, knocked it home.

Sonny Milano nearly got Washington on the board when he hit the bottom of the crossbar a little more than five minutes into the third period.

Washington killed four power plays in the first 10 minutes of the third period and Strome pulled the Capitals within 2-1 at 11:25. Ovechkin skated through the left circle and, when Allen moved toward him, passed across the slot to Strome, who knocked it in.

--Field Level Media