Josh Anderson scores twice and Lane Hutson delivers another strong offensive performance, but Montreal’s defensive struggles and Jakub Dobes’ latest outing raise important questions.
The Montreal Canadiens have once again demonstrated their ability to generate offense, but Wednesday night’s 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals exposed a growing concern: consistency in goal.
Coming off a 4-3 shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, the Canadiens had an opportunity to build momentum with another strong performance. Josh Anderson scored twice, Lane Hutson contributed a goal and an assist, and Alex Newhook recorded two assists.
Despite those offensive contributions, Montreal left Washington without a point.
The final score tells only part of the story. The Canadiens repeatedly surrendered their leads, struggled to contain Washington’s attack, and received another performance from Dobes that will raise questions about the team’s goaltending situation.
Montreal outshot Washington 30-23. Jakub Dobes stopped 18 of 23 shots (.783), while Charlie Lindgren stopped 26 of 30 (.867) at the other end.
Jakub Dobes: The Concerns Continue
Allowing five goals in a game is never ideal for a goaltender. When it happens for the third time in four starts, however, questions about consistency become increasingly difficult to ignore. Dobes has allowed six goals in Pittsburgh, five against Carolina and five in Washington, and his season line now stands at 1-2-1 with a 4.63 goals-against average and a .841 save percentage.
Dobes stopped 18 of the 23 shots he faced. Some of Washington’s scoring opportunities were difficult to handle, particularly when traffic in front of the net limited his visibility. Nevertheless, several moments during the game highlighted the importance of getting timely saves when the team needs them most.
Justin Holl’s third-period goal was particularly damaging. The Capitals defenseman fired a shot from the point through traffic, catching Dobes off guard and giving Washington a 4-3 lead at 12:29.
Alex Tuch then delivered another blow, extending the Capitals’ advantage to 5-3 at 17:05 with less than three minutes remaining.
Those goals put Montreal in a difficult position and forced the Canadiens to chase the game during the final minutes.
However, it would be unfair to place the entire responsibility for the loss on Dobes. Defensive coverage, pressure on opposing shooters, and the quality of the chances surrendered all contribute to a goaltender’s performance.
At the same time, a goaltender must occasionally make a difficult save to compensate for a defensive mistake. So far this season, Dobes has not consistently provided Montreal with that level of security.
The question is not whether the Canadiens should give up on their goaltender after a handful of games. It is whether Dobes can find the consistency necessary to give his teammates confidence when the pressure increases.
Four Goals Should Have Given Montreal a Better Chance
Montreal’s offensive production was encouraging, but the team could not translate its scoring into a victory.
Anderson opened the scoring at 4:29 of the first period after receiving a pass from Newhook in front of the net.
Washington responded at 7:56 when Jordan Kyrou took advantage of a defensive mistake, maneuvered into the slot, and beat Dobes.
Hutson restored Montreal’s lead at 11:15 with an excellent offensive play, finding space in the middle of the ice before beating Lindgren.
However, the Capitals tied the game 2-2 on a power-play goal late in the opening period. Ivan Miroshnichenko scored at 19:34 on a wrist shot that deflected off Anderson’s stick on its way into the net, with assists to Ilya Protas and Kyrou.
Washington took its first lead early in the second period when Tuch scored a shorthanded goal at 6:16 on a two-on-one rush.
That sequence was particularly damaging for Montreal. Instead of capitalizing on a power-play opportunity, the Canadiens found themselves trailing.
Anderson eventually tied the game again at 3-3, finishing another excellent setup from Newhook at 12:58.
But the pattern continued: Montreal scored, Washington responded, and the Canadiens struggled to regain control.
Scoring four goals should generally give a team a strong opportunity to win. When it is not enough, the defensive structure and goaltending deserve serious examination.
Alex Tuch Makes the Difference
Alex Tuch was one of the decisive players in Washington’s victory, finishing with two goals and an assist. He was named the game’s first star.
His shorthanded goal gave the Capitals a 3-2 lead in the second period. Later, his second goal of the night extended Washington’s advantage to 5-3 and left Montreal with little time to complete a comeback.
Between those two goals, Justin Holl had already put Washington ahead with his shot from the point.
The Capitals found different ways to hurt Montreal throughout the game, generating dangerous opportunities in transition, on the power play, and through traffic in front of the net.
For the Canadiens, these situations provide important material for review.
Not every goal against has the same cause. Some result primarily from defensive breakdowns, while others present opportunities for a goaltender to make a difference.
Identifying that distinction will be essential if Montreal hopes to correct its problems.
The objective should not simply be to criticize the defense or blame the goaltender. It should be to understand why the goals were scored and determine what adjustments will prevent similar situations in future games.
Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson Deliver Positive Performances
Despite the disappointing result, Montreal had several encouraging individual performances.
Anderson scored twice, while Newhook recorded two assists on his goals. Their connection provided the Canadiens with an effective offensive combination and helped keep Montreal competitive throughout the game. Anderson was named the game’s third star.
Hutson also continued his impressive offensive contribution with a goal and an assist, setting up Suzuki’s late goal. His ability to join the attack, find open space, and create scoring opportunities remains an important asset for the Canadiens.
The game also featured a special family storyline, as Lane faced his brother Cole Hutson for the first time in the NHL. Both brothers recorded a point during the contest, with Cole assisting on Kyrou’s first-period goal.
Captain Nick Suzuki gave Montreal one final opportunity to complete the comeback when he scored with 1:39 remaining during a six-on-four power play.
Unfortunately, the Canadiens could not find the equalizer.
The offense did its part to keep Montreal in the game. The problem was the team’s inability to prevent Washington from repeatedly regaining the advantage.
The Bigger Issue: Finding Balance Between Offense and Defense
It would be too easy to conclude that Montreal’s problems begin and end with Dobes.
The Canadiens must also manage critical moments more effectively, reduce costly mistakes, and do a better job protecting their own zone when opponents increase the pressure.
However, it would be equally unwise to ignore the concerns surrounding the goaltending.
A team with ambitions of becoming more competitive needs consistent performances from its goaltenders. It cannot rely on scoring four or five goals every night to have a realistic chance of winning.
Montreal’s coaching staff must evaluate two important areas: the quality of the defensive play in front of Dobes and the goaltender’s ability to make timely saves when his team needs them most.
These two elements are closely connected.
Better defensive coverage can reduce the number of dangerous chances. At the same time, reliable goaltending can give a team the confidence to remain competitive when mistakes inevitably occur.
The solution does not necessarily involve making a drastic decision after one loss. Instead, Montreal needs to identify recurring problems, evaluate performances honestly, and make the necessary adjustments before these issues become a more significant concern.
Conclusion: A Loss That Should Serve as a Warning
The Canadiens leave Washington disappointed after a 5-4 defeat despite generating enough offense to win.
Anderson scored twice, Hutson continued to contribute offensively, and Newhook demonstrated his playmaking ability. Nevertheless, those efforts were not enough to overcome Montreal’s defensive difficulties.
The central question now is whether the Canadiens can become more consistent in the moments that determine the outcome of a game.
Dobes needs to regain his confidence and deliver more reliable performances, but the defense must also do a better job of protecting its goaltender. Neither issue can be evaluated entirely in isolation.
Montreal will return home Saturday night to face the Buffalo Sabres at 7 PM ET, providing another opportunity to respond and demonstrate that the loss in Washington was a temporary setback rather than a sign of a deeper problem. Check the Lineup Tonight page before puck drop.
The offensive talent is there. Now, Montreal must find a way to win games when its offense cannot constantly bail out the team.
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