Canadiens storm Capitals with four goals in 2nd period

Tomas Tatar #90 of the Montreal Canadiens scores a goal in the game against the Washington Capitals, Capital One Arena, November 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Tomas Tatar had a goal with three assists and Phillip Danault recorded one with two helpers as the visiting Montreal Canadiens used a four-goal second period to win their third straight, 5-2, and end the Washington Capitals' 13-game point streak on Friday night.

Shea Weber, Jordan Weal and Nick Suzuki also scored for the Canadiens, who have earned at least one point in five consecutive games (4-0-1) and are 7-1-1 in their last nine. Carey Price made 26 saves as Montreal outshot the hosts 40-28.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 14th on the power play and Evgeny Kuznetsov also delivered in the third period for Washington, but by that time it proved too late. The Capitals, who entered as an NHL-leading team with 32 points, were amid an 11-0-2 stretch before falling Friday.

Ilya Samsonov of the Washington Capitals stops a shot on net in the game against the Montreal Canadiens, Capital One Arena, November 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Montreal outshot the Capitals 15-9 in the first period. However, the game was scoreless after 20 minutes as Washington backup goalie Ilya Samsonov (35 saves), starting this back-to-back situation, more than once came up with a big save.

Samsonov was sharp early in the second period before the Capitals gave up the puck in their own zone. Tatar corralled it and found Danault alone in front of the net, where he made a move on Samsonov before converting 6:22 into the period for a 1-0 lead.

Weber struck less than three minutes later to make it 2-0. The veteran defenseman drove home a laser shot, from the top of the circle on the near board, over the shoulder of Samsonov with 10:44 to go in the second.

Players of the Montreal Canadiens celebrate after scoring a goal in the game against the Washington Capitals, Capital One Arena, November 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Montreal made it 3-0 while putting pressure in front of the Washington net, culminating with Weal getting a backhander past Samsonov with 8:19 to go in the middle period. The Canadiens then finished off some nifty passing with Suzuki's deflected goal with 5:18 left in a nightmare second period for Washington.

Ovechkin came through with his one-timer 5:34 into the third. Kuznetsov scored his ninth via a breakaway with 4:22 to go in regulation for Washington, which ended a 5-0-1 home stretch.

Tatar added an empty-netter with 2:31 left for his seventh of the season.

Other games on Friday included (home teams in bold):

Toronto Maple Leafs 2-4 Boston Bruins

New Jersey Devils 2-1 Pittsburgh Penguins

Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 St. Louis Blues

Ottawa Senators 2-1 Philadelphia Flyers

Source(s): Reuters