The Montreal Canadiens were looking for their third straight win on Wednesday night but were going to have to go on the road against the Washington Capitals to get it. The Canadiens were coming off a shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, but struggles in the third period cost them the win, and they lost 5-4 to the Capitals.
Josh Anderson would give the Canadiens the lead early with a goal in the first five minutes of the game, and it would be the first of four goals scored in the period, with each team scoring two. The scoring slowed down a bit in the second, with each team adding one to their total, but neither team was really building much of a lead.
However, that changed in the third period, as the Capitals would score two straight to take a 5-3 lead, and Alex Tuch's goal with just under three minutes left in the period was the deciding goal. These are three takeaways for the Montreal Canadiens from the game on Wednesday night.
Josh Anderson has no problem finding the back of the net (even his own)
Josh Anderson continues his hot start to the season as he adds two more goals to his season total in this game against the Washington Capitals. On both goals, Anderson was in the right place at the right time as the Capitals lost him in coverage, and he ended up right in front of the crease. Alex Newhook made great passes to set Anderson up for the goals.
This was the first time Anderson had two or more goals in a game since December 20th last season, when he scored two against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 4-0 win. This season, Anderson now has four goals and is well on his way to scoring 20 or more goals in a season for the first time since the 2022-23 season.
It wasn't all perfect for Anderson in this game, though, as he would deflect the puck into the Canadiens' net in the closing seconds of the first period. However, the good certainly outweighed the bad in this one.
Jakub Dobes shaky in first start in over a week
Jakub Dobes made his first start in over a week as Jacob Fowler made the start in the last three games. Prior to Fowler's run in net, Dobes was shaky to begin this season as he went 1-1-1 in three starts with a save percentage of .856 and a goals against average of 4.43.
Entering this game, Dobes probably was feeling a little pressure as Fowler has looked great in his starts. Dobes probably wanted to remind everyone why the Canadiens gave him a contract extension this offseason.
Unfortunately, he didn't get that chance as he once again had a shaky performance, giving up five goals, including two in the third period, on only 24 shots on goal. It will be interesting to see who Martin St. Louis goes with for the game on Saturday, but it certainly feels like there might be a goalie controversy brewing.
Montreal Canadiens might have a third period problem
Through the first 50 minutes of this game, the two teams felt evenly matched, and neither team was really able to pull away. However, in the final 10 minutes of the third period, the Capitals were not only able to break the tie but then add to it shortly after, putting the game out of reach.
It is early in the season, but there is a concerning trend that is brewing for this Montreal Canadiens team. Through the first seven games, the Canadiens have been outscored in the third period six goals to 10, and three of the Canadiens' third-period goals were in the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This game against the Washington Capitals was very similar to their game against the Nashville Predators when it was tied for most of the game, but the Predators scored the deciding goal late in the third period. While the Canadiens got the win against the Sabres, that was another game where third period struggles emerged by blowing a two-goal lead.
The Montreal Canadiens will have a few days to regroup before another game with the Buffalo Sabres at home on Saturday night.
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