Montreal (12-5-4) at Washington (12-7-3) 7:00 pm EST
WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- After a disappointing road trip, Alex
Ovechkin made sure the Washington Capitals' return home was a
happy one.
Ovechkin and the Capitals look to extend their home winning
streak to seven games when they host the Montreal Canadiens on
Friday.
The reigning Hart Trophy winner, Ovechkin recorded his sixth
career hat trick and added an assist as Washington defeated
Atlanta, 5-3, on Wednesday.
Ovechkin extended his points streak to nine games, a stretch in
which he has 10 goals and 11 assists.
Washington was coming off a five-game road trip that saw it go
1-3-1. The Verizon Center has been a much more comfortable
place for the Capitals, who own the Eastern Conference's best
home record at 8-0-1.
For the first time in nearly two weeks, Montreal did not need a
shootout to put a mark in the win column. Carey Price made 31
saves and the Canadiens scored three second-period goals to top
the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, 3-1, on
Wednesday.
Montreal entered the contest 2-3-2 in its last seven contests,
with its two wins coming via shootout at St. Louis and Ottawa.
The wins improved the Canadiens to 4-4 in the bonus format.
Following the matchup with the Capitals, the Canadiens play 10
of their next 11 games at home.