With the Montreal Canadiens edging closer to grabbing a foothold in their series against the Washington Capitals — up two goals late in Game 3 — Élise Béliveau appeared on the Bell Centre scoreboard.
Fans erupted into deafening cheers the moment she came into view. As cameras shifted to husband Jean Béliveau’s retired jersey hanging in the rafters, the crowd began chanting: Béliveau! Béliveau! Béliveau!
But the Canadiens didn’t need to rely on the ghosts of past legends to overwhelm the Capitals. Josh Anderson had already set the tone, delivering six crushing hits and changing the game’s momentum with a fierce fight against Tom Wilson at the end of the second period.
Anderson Leads, Canadiens Follow
Anderson’s energy galvanized his teammates, leading to a 6-3 Montreal victory. The Canadiens dominated in all aspects, boasting an 81-45 advantage in shot attempts and a 46-26 edge in hits, stunning a Capitals team that had built a 2-0 series lead in Washington.
In the intense atmosphere of one of hockey’s most iconic venues, the Capitals crumbled. Head coach Spencer Carbery admitted postgame that his team struggled with “nerves” and “a lack of poise,” citing 17 costly turnovers.
Anderson’s relentless forechecking, often barreling through the neutral zone and delivering punishing blows to any Capitals player in sight, set the aggressive tone. Nicknamed “The Powerhorse” by former teammate Tomas Tatar, the six-foot-three, 236-pound winger had been eagerly waiting for this moment.
Playoff Dreams Realized
“It’s a lot of emotions,” Anderson said. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this. Our fanbase has been waiting, the players have been waiting. It’s been tough years. I can’t tell you how excited we were to play in front of our home crowd tonight.”
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The scene outside the rink — packed with fans in Canadiens jerseys — and the roaring energy inside gave the Canadiens an extra gear. Anderson noted that Game 3 was a must-win to regain momentum in the series, and the entire team responded without hesitation.
Chaos at the Capitals’ Bench
The night was filled with playoff drama. Both starting goaltenders exited with injuries in the second period, and Anderson’s fight with Wilson created a chaotic scene at the Capitals’ bench, blocking coach Spencer Carbery from accessing his players.
“I was trying to cross the ice and had to turn back because there were two large individuals coming through the door,” Carbery said, describing the madness. “Just two competitive guys going at it.”
Defenseman Arber Xhekaj, inserted into the lineup for his first-ever playoff game, said Anderson’s leadership inspired the team. “He’s going every night. Tonight, we hopped on his train and followed him,” said Xhekaj.
Capitals Struggle to Keep Pace
The Capitals, dominant in Washington, couldn’t withstand the Canadiens’ relentless pace in Montreal. Despite scoring the first goal and answering back twice, they looked overwhelmed.
“They gave us all sorts of issues,” said Carbery. “There’s no way the Montreal Canadiens were going to go quietly. We knew that.”
Lane Hutson, targeted heavily in the first two games, created a brilliant play late in the second period to set up Cole Caufield for a 3-2 lead. That moment, combined with Anderson’s fight, shifted the momentum permanently.
Even after Alex Ovechkin tied it early in the third, the Canadiens allowed just six shots the rest of the way.
Rookie Goaltender Steps Up
With starter Samuel Montembeault injured, 23-year-old Jakub Dobes took over in goal for Montreal.
“I was afraid, I was excited, I was crying at the end there,” Dobes admitted, describing the emotional rollercoaster of his playoff debut. Despite the nerves, he steadied the Canadiens, making seven saves on eight shots.
Logan Thompson, meanwhile, suffered a serious injury after teammate Dylan Strome crashed into him while trying to prevent Juraj Slafkovsky’s first playoff goal — a key insurance marker for the Canadiens.
Full Team Effort Powers Canadiens
Christian Dvorak’s goal earlier in the third period held up as the winner, while Caufield set up Slafkovsky’s tally and peppered the Capitals with 11 shots. Alex Newhook, after a rough start, capped the night with an empty-net goal to seal the 6-3 win.
Everyone contributed — from Oliver Kapanen, stepping in for an injured Patrik Laine, to Ivan Demidov, who thrived off the crowd’s energy.
“What I like about the playoffs, especially with a younger group, is it pulls you to another level,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “The ambiance, the atmosphere, the stakes — it’s another world.”
And on this night, fueled by their fans and led by Anderson’s powerful example, the Canadiens made it their world.
