Ovechkin has three assists, Capitals score six in win against Canadiens

WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkin had three assists for the Washington Capitals in a 6-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.

Ovechkin has scored 33 points (15 goals and 18 assists) in 21 games.
"He's rolling," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. "He's still shooting too. It's not like he couldn't have scored tonight. He's still unleashing. But I always think there's that area where you've got to make the right decision. It can't just be about one thing or the other thing, so he's done a really good job of that."
Ilya Samsonov, who had a shutout in his two previous starts, made 25 saves for the Capitals (12-4-5), who are 7-1-1 in their past nine games.
Jake Evans and Artturi Lehkonen each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (5-14-2), who are 1-4-1 in their past six games. Jake Allen made 28 saves in his return after missing four games because of a concussion sustained at the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 13.
The Canadiens, who defeated the Nashville Predators 6-3 on Saturday, were trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season.
"It's clear we're not the same team the second game," Evans said. "We let off the gas a little bit. Now we're playing some good teams and they make you pay pretty quickly."
Injuries have required players from Hershey of the American Hockey League to step in for the Capitals, including forwards Beck Malenstyn and Michael Sgarbossa on Wednesday.
"These guys getting called up here, we're not hiding them," Laviolette said. "We've got to keep the train moving down the track and these guys have come up and done an excellent job."
Nic Dowd gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 3:34 of the first period. Dowd went around Jeff Petry, lost the puck as he attempted to shoot, but regained it and went around the back of the net and scored on a backhand.

John Carlson made it 2-0 with a slap shot from the point on a power play at 9:43. Ovechkin had the secondary assist.
"Those two quick goals obviously put us on our heels," Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said. "We cannot wait to come back to the room and I talk to them and they talk to themselves and then we come back and we're better. We've got to do it within the game."
The Capitals led 3-0 after Cedric Paquette's clearing attempt hit Sgarbossa in the slot and went in.
Evans scored from the slot to pull the Canadiens within 3-1 at 18:46.
Samsonov, who shut out the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, had not allowed a goal in 170:13, dating to a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 12.
Evgeny Kuznetsov made it 4-1 when he tucked in a slap pass from Carlson at 9:05 of the second period. Ovechkin had his secondary assist.
Cole Caufield pulled Montreal within 4-2 at 18:54 when his shot caromed of the glass back in front and he knocked the puck across the goal line before it hit Samsonov's left pad and came out. A video review confirmed the goal.
Wilson made it 5-2 off a 2-on-1 pass from Ovechkin at 1:49 of the third period. Wilson has scored four goals in his past six games.
"Every time a different team scored a goal, they kind of have momentum, and it was important for us to get it back right away," Ovechkin said.
Dmitry Orlov's goal made it 6-2 at 5:57 and Lehkonen made it 6-3 at 17:34.
"I think we're working hard," Evans said. "I just think sometimes we lose coverage, we lose a quick battle and it bites us … We're all feeling pretty bad about our games and we're all feeling bad about how this season has started off for us. It's time to turn the corner."
NOTES: Ovechkin had his 16th three-assist game in the NHL and first since Feb. 15, 2018 at the Minnesota Wild. … Caufield ended an 18-game goal drought dating to Game 6 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals. … Capitals defenseman Justin Schultz left late in the first period with an upper-body injury. He is day to day. … Laviolette (685-443-133 with 25 ties) passed Pat Quinn for 11th place in NHL coaching wins.