Post Game Poutine: Mantha, Capitals Double Canadiens 8-4

The Washington Capitals took the Montreal Canadiens to town on Saturday night, doubling the Habs 8-4 in a show of offensive dominance.

The game started off slowly, with both teams measuring themselves up in the first period. The Capitals looked like they were waiting out the Canadiens to begin playing a more open game, which the Canadiens did in the following period.

The second period was especially wild, with the Canadiens and Capitals trading offensive chances and goals. The pace of the game was quick and electric, keeping the Canadiens faithful on the edge of their seats. Hometown boy Anthony Mantha had other plans, though, as he scored two goals in less than a minute to give the Capitals a commanding lead.

The Capitals truly took over, adding four more goals to their impressive goal total against the Canadiens. Nick Suzuki gave the Bell Centre crowd something to cheer about, as the young centre was able to notch his 20th goal of the season late in the third period, the first on the Montreal Canadiens to hit the 20-goal mark this season.

Here’s your MHN Postgame Poutine:

GOLD STAR: Anthony Mantha – Anthony Mantha was easily the most productive player on the ice tonight, using his size, speed and quick shot to torment the Canadiens’ defence. His two goals were pivotal in helping the Washington Capitals take a stranglehold on the momentum of the game when the Canadiens were pushing to tie up the game. Mantha added another two assists for a four-point night in his hometown.

Jake marque son 11e but de la saison et inscrit le Tricolore au tableau indicateur!

Jake Evans gets his 11th of the season to get the Habs on the board!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/xGtVDvhtWe

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 17, 2022

TABARNAK: Josh Anderson Penalty: Jake Evans and Capitals forward Tom Wilson were getting into a scuffle that Evans wanted no part of near the Canadiens bench toward the end of the second period. Josh Anderson jumped in immediately to defend his teammates, pulling Wilson off of Evans and inviting him to pick on someone his own size. Unfortunately for Anderson, he was the only player penalized on the play.

TURNING POINT: Vanecek Save, Mantha Goal: After Anthony Mantha gave the Capitals back the lead in the second period by bringing the score to 2-1, the Canadiens immediately came out pressing to try and tie the game once more. Nick Suzuki slid a beautiful pass over to Cole Caufield and he was absolutely robbed by Vitek Vanecek. As the puck turned the other way for the counter attack, Mantha quickly made his way up the ice, beating the Montreal Canadiens’ defence and potting his second goal in less than a minute to give the Capitals the 3-1 lead.

Belle passe de Petry dans l'enclave!

Great pass from Petry from the crease!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/7KateFfH9B

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 17, 2022

HONORABLE MENTION: Ryan Poehling: Ryan Poehling has been playing at another level since coming back from injury last week. He’s been skating hard and generating quality scoring chances on a nightly basis and tonight, he was rewarded. On both his goals, Poehling went hard to the net and made sure to have his stick on the ice in order to deflect a pass or jam in a loose puck. The young centre has shown good progression this season, but lately, he’s looked like a bonafide NHL player.

BY THE NUMBERS: Here’s how the Montreal Canadiens lined up Saturday night:

Forwards

Cole Caufield-Nick Suzuki–Josh Anderson

Mike Hoffman-Christian Dvorak-Brendan Gallagher

Rem Pitlick-Jake Evans-Joel Armia

Tyler Pitlick-Ryan Poehling-Micheal Pezzetta

Defence:

Alexander Romanov-David Savard

Joel Edmundson-Jeff Petry

Corey Schueneman-Chris Wideman

Goalies:

Carey Price

Sam Montembeault

QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s been a tough schedule, but every team is going through the same thing. You gotta find a way to create your own energy, and I thought we did a real good job of that last night. Samt thing tonight – in the first period I thought we played really good and then obviously had some breakdowns in the game that eneded up coasting us.” – Josh Anderson on the team’s struggle to find energy in spite of the grueling schedule.