For the 11th time since the NHL Trade deadline, the Washington Capitals have beaten their opponents and gotten closer to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They've won 11 of the 13 games since Jason Arnott, Dennis Wideman, and Marco Sturm became members of the Capitals.
Sturm was influential in this game in particular. His goal in the second minute of the game was the biggest difference between the Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens for almost the entire. That, and over a dozen shots. The Capitals out-shot the Canadiens 33-18.
Sturm also played a major role in the final goal of the night, breaking up the Canadiens' puck movement and finding Nicklas Backstrom on the wing. Backstrom hit Alexander Semin in front of the net for an easy finish to a play that saw two of Washington's top forwards in alone against Carey Price.
The Capitals now find themselves once again two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for first place, and two points shy of 100 points this season.