WINNIPEG – The Washington Capitals know just how frustrating blocked shot attempts can be. Five years ago, the Montreal Canadiens blocked 41 Washington shots in a playoff game, and the Capitals, winners of the Presidents’ Trophy that season, eventually lost the seven-game series.
In Montreal on Thursday, Washington was able to turn the tables in a 3-2 win, blocking 26 shot attempts by the Canadiens, which was a season-high for the Capitals. Most of those blocks were out of desperation against a Montreal team that spent most of the game in Washington’s zone and still got 35 shots on goal despite the blocks.