WASHINGTON – The Washington Capitals overcame an early deficit and a resilient Calgary Flames squad to secure a 7-3 victory on Monday night, ending a three-game losing streak. A strong offensive performance led by Connor McMichael’s two goals propelled the Capitals to success at Capital One Arena.
The win marked a crucial bounce-back for Washington, who had been struggling to uncover consistency in recent games. Calgary, despite showing fight, continued a trend of inconsistency, falling to their fifth loss in six games. The Capitals’ ability to respond after surrendering a three-goal lead in the second period proved pivotal, showcasing their resilience and determination.
McMichael Leads the Charge
Connor McMichael was the driving force behind the Capitals’ offensive surge, netting two goals, including the go-ahead tally in the third period. According to NHL.com, McMichael broke the 4-3 tie at 10:52 of the third, capitalizing on a loose puck during a scramble in front of the net and shooting over Calgary goalie Devin Cooley’s right shoulder during a power play. “Yeah, it just popped right out, right on my tape and I just ripped it, and thankfully went in,” McMichael said.
Beyond McMichael, Justin Sourdif contributed a goal and two assists, while Hendrix Lapierre added a goal and an assist for Washington. Logan Thompson made 23 saves in the win, demonstrating solid goaltending despite the offensive fireworks.
Flames Fight Back, But Fall Short
The Calgary Flames demonstrated considerable resilience, battling back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the second period. Matvei Gridin, Blake Coleman, and Yegor Sharangovich each found the back of the net for Calgary. However, the Flames’ momentum was ultimately stifled by Washington’s strong third-period response. Calgary has now lost five of their last six games, with a record of 25-31-7 as of March 10, 2026.
Coleman acknowledged the team’s effort, stating, “Put ourselves in a hole early. Proud of the way we fought back. It was a tough third. … I thought our team showed a lot of grit fighting back in the game. Just didn’t find a way to complete it.”
Game Details and Key Moments
Hendrix Lapierre opened the scoring for the Capitals just 2:46 into the first period, capitalizing on a rebound after a kick save by Cooley. Tom Wilson extended the lead to 2-0 at 9:13, and McMichael’s first goal of the night gave Washington a 3-0 advantage. The Flames then mounted their comeback in the second period, with Gridin scoring a backdoor feed from Olli Maatta, and Coleman and Sharangovich adding shorthanded goals within a span of 1:16 after Washington turnovers.
Washington regained the lead early in the third period with McMichael’s second goal, followed quickly by a goal from Sourdif. Ethen Frank added an empty-netter late in the game, and Ryan Leonard capped off the scoring with a breakaway goal in the final seconds, extending his point streak to three games.
Devin Cooley stopped 22 of 24 shots for the Flames.
What’s Next
The Washington Capitals (32-26-7) will continue their road trip with a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The Calgary Flames will travel to Modern York to face the Rangers on Tuesday, seeking to regain their footing and address their recent struggles. The Flames will need to tighten their defensive play and capitalize on scoring opportunities to improve their playoff positioning in the Western Conference.
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