Capitals vs. Canadiens: Alex Tuch Scores Twice, Including a Short-Handed Goal, in a 5-4 Win

Charlie Lindgren spent the last four years on the wrong end of Alex Tuch's release. On Wednesday night, he finally got the good seat. Tuch scored once while short-handed, once to put the game away, and set up another for good measure. This time, Lindgren was on his side.

Tuch's two goals and an assist powered the Washington Capitals past the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 at Capital One Arena. Justin Holl broke a 3-3 tie with 7:31 to play, Tuch added the insurance goal at 17:05, and Washington survived a late Nick Suzuki power-play goal to snap a two-game losing streak. Both teams were on the second night of a back-to-back, and for long stretches it looked like it.

Three Ties, No Breathing Room

Montreal struck first. At 4:29, Jordan Kyrou coughed up the puck in his own end, Alex Newhook pounced, circled below the goal line and fed Josh Anderson, who flicked it past Lindgren for a 1-0 lead.

Kyrou made amends at 7:56. He took a drop pass from Cole Hutson, slipped around Anderson and snapped a stick-side shot from between the circles moments after a Washington power play expired. Then the family subplot kicked in. Lane Hutson, facing younger brother Cole for the first time, shook Ilya Protas at the blue line and scored from the high slot at 11:15 to put Montreal back in front. Per NHL.com, the Hutsons are the second set of defenseman brothers in NHL history to each record a point in their first head-to-head meeting, following Luke and Quinn Hughes.

Lane went to the box for holding at 17:46, and Washington cashed in with 26 seconds left in the period. Ivan Miroshnichenko, playing his first game of the season, sent a pass across the crease that deflected in off Anderson's stick. 2-2.

The second period flipped the script on special teams. Justin Sourdif went off for tripping at 4:34, and on the ensuing Montreal power play, Tuch grabbed a deflected puck, raced into the zone on a 2-on-1 with Aliaksei Protas and snapped a wrist shot from the left circle at 6:16. Washington led 3-2 while down a man.

Montreal tied it again at 12:58, and Holl was the victim. Newhook stripped him along the left boards and fed Anderson in front for a tip-in, his second goal of the night.

The Turning Point

Holl got his redemption arc at 12:29 of the third. From the right point, he wired a shot through a forest of bodies that beat Jakub Dobes for a 4-3 lead. Per NHL.com, he became the first Capitals defenseman to score in each of his first two games with the franchise. Alex Ovechkin's assist on the play was the 760th of his career, two shy of tying Nicklas Backstrom's franchise record of 762.

That goal flipped everything. Before it, Montreal had answered every Washington punch. After it, Tuch spun and fired from the right circle at 17:05 for a 5-3 cushion, his fifth goal of the season.

The Canadiens made it interesting anyway. Dylan Strome took a slashing penalty at 17:57, Montreal pulled Dobes for a 6-on-4, and Suzuki ripped a shot from the left circle at 18:21. Washington held on through the final 1:39.

Tuch Looks Like Money Well Spent

Washington acquired Tuch from Buffalo in a sign-and-trade on June 24, according to NHL.com, and he now has six points, five goals and one assist, in seven games with his new team. His short-handed goal was the swing play of the middle period, and his late snipe ended any comeback dreams.

"Not just the production, the overall package of Alex Tuch is going to be a welcomed addition for a lot of years to come and he's off to a great start," coach Spencer Carbery said.

Tuch credited the group's composure. "It wasn't always pretty, we just rebounded really well in certain situations," he said. "No one was gripping their stick too tight, no one was trying to do too much out there."

Lindgren made 25 saves on 29 shots, and per NHL.com, the victory was his 68th with Washington, moving him past Pat Riggin into sole possession of seventh place on the franchise list. He knows exactly how dangerous his new teammate is. "After playing him for the last four years, you know how deadly his release is and you saw it tonight, too," Lindgren said.

For Montreal, Anderson scored twice, Newhook assisted on both, and Lane Hutson finished with a goal and an assist. Anderson still took the loss personally. "Obviously our kill hurt us. Especially myself, being out there for those two goals. Disappointing. I wish I could take those back," he said.

Stats That Matter

• 1: Short-handed goals in the game, and Tuch had it. Washington's penalty kill turned a Montreal power play into a lead.
• 29-24: Montreal's edge in shots on goal. The Canadiens generated more, and Washington finished better.
• 19 of 24: Dobes' saves, a .792 save percentage that left Montreal little margin.
• 57.4%: Washington's faceoff win rate.

What It Means

Washington improves to 4-3-0 with eight points and 3-1-0 at home after a 4-2 loss at Carolina on Tuesday. Carbery loved how it ended. "Phenomenal third period," he said, adding that "the third period was arguably one of the best periods we played all year."

Montreal falls to 3-3-1 with seven points and 1-1-1 on the road, its two-game winning streak over after Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over Buffalo. Coach Martin St. Louis sounded frustrated but steady. "I think we're struggling at getting rewarded for the work I think we're putting in, but it's OK. We are where we are. We're going to keep pushing," he said. Lane Hutson agreed the effort was there, saying Montreal "carried a lot of the play for big chunks of the game."

Suzuki pointed straight at the third period. "I think we obviously would like some defensive plays back in that third period," he said.

The Canadiens host Buffalo on Saturday night. The Capitals host New Jersey on Saturday.

Closing Take

This game felt like a Marvel crossover where the new guy steals every scene. Washington's defense gave up a goal off a turnover, Montreal's power play gave up a short-handed goal, and nobody's structure looked pristine. But Tuch kept showing up at the exact moment the plot needed a twist. That is what a franchise pays for, and Lindgren, of all people, can vouch for it.

Stats from the official box score via ESPN. Game details from the Associated Press; postgame quotes and notes as reported by NHL.com.