WSH@MTL: Game recap

MONTREAL - Martin St. Louis made his Canadiens coaching debut on Thursday, but his first career win will need to wait at least another night.

St. Louis' first moments behind the Canadiens bench did not go exactly as planned, as the team fell behind by a pair of goals early to start the game, before settling down.
Joe Snively scored his first of the season at 5:04 before Connor McMichael doubled the lead just 20 seconds later to make it 2-0.
The Capitals held a slim 11-10 edge in shots through the game's opening 20.
Washington added to its lead to start the middle frame, as Carl Hagelin made it 3-0 at 3:40. That goal sparked the busy 96-second sequence that followed.
Rem Pitlick got the Canadiens on the board with his ninth of the season at 4:09, before Snively's second of the night restored the Capitals' three-goal lead just 69 seconds later.

St. Louis opted for a change between the pipes following Washington's fourth tally; Sam Montembeault entered the game in relief of Cayden Primeau.
Cole Caufield pulled the Habs back within two at 15:58, scoring on Montreal's third power play opportunity of the night.

Montembeault stopped all five shots he faced in a period which saw the Habs outshoot the Caps 18-8.
Back for the final frame, and Caufield looked to have cut the Capitals lead to one, but his goal was ruled offside following a Washington coach's challenge.
Montreal dominated the third to the tune of a 16-4 shot advantage, but could not solve Ilya Samsonov.
Tom Wilson added the empty-netter at 18:45 to end things 5-2.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Saturday, when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Bell Centre for a matinee matchup.