After a scoreless first period, the Capitals and Canadiens lit the lamp three times in the second period. The Capitals did so twice, and therefore have a 2-1 lead after two periods. Alexander Semin and Marcus Johansson scored for the Capitals, while Jussi Jokenen scored for Carolina.

Jokenen scored first, putting Carolina up 1-0 with a power-play goal, and nearly scored again. The Capitals were called for a penalty shot, and Chad LaRose came skating in. But Semyon Varlamov beautifully poke-checked the puck away, and that led to a Capitals run.

Semin tied the game a couple minutes later, slipping in on a bad angle in the corner and somehow depositing the puck past Cam Ward in the top right corner. The Capitals kept the pressure, especially after Dennis Wideman had to leave the game following a hit by Tumo Ruutu. The play fired up the Capitals, and they eventually got a second goal when Semin found Johansson, who made a nifty move on the doorstep and finished with a backhand.