MTL@WSH: Postgame

WASHINGTON, DC - The Canadiens posted a 5-2 victory over the Capitals on Friday night to extend their winning streak to three straight games.

There was no shortage of support for the CH in their first of two regular-season visits to the District of Columbia.

Veteran Nate Thompson made sure to keep things relatively loose during the pregame warmup.

That's exactly what you want to do before taking on the the top team in the standings.
The Canadiens were the more active squad during the first period, outshooting the Capitals by a 15-9 margin.
Unfortunately, goaltender Ilya Samsonov didn't allow a goal and it remained scoreless heading into the intermission.
Claude Julien's squad finally solved Samsonov at the 6:22 mark of the middle frame when Phillip Danault scored his sixth goal of the season.

That snapped a five-game goal drought for Danault, who obviously has Tomas Tatar to thank for the marker. Brendan Gallagher collected the secondary helper on the play.
Captain Shea Weber put the Canadiens ahead by a pair when he blasted home his sixth goal of the year courtesy of a one-time feed from fellow rearguard Ben Chiarot.

The tally extended Weber's point streak to five straight games.
It wasn't long before Jordan Weal upped the Habs' lead to 3-0 on a beautiful individual effort.

Weal's third goal of the 2019-20 campaign came in his return to the lineup after watching the previous four games from the press box as a healthy scratch.
Next up to light the lamp was Nick Suzuki, who extended the Canadiens' advantage to 4-0.

It was his fourth goal of the year, and his first since October 26 against the Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre.
All four goals were scored in a span of just 8:20.
The Capitals finally got on the board when Alex Ovechkin scored a power play goal at the 5:34 mark of the third period.
It was a typical Ovechkin strike, beating Carey Price with a one-timer from the circle.
Evgeny Kuznetsov cut the Canadiens' lead to 4-2 with 4:22 remaining in regulation.
Tomas Tatar added an empty-netter for the CH with 2:31 left before the final buzzer.

That's the way things ultimately finished up scoring-wise.
The Canadiens will be back in action against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night in Montreal.