NHL Roundup : Montreal Loses Another One on Washington’s Home Ice

The Montreal Canadiens played 15 games at Capital Centre in Landover, Md., before losing there. Now they’ve played 13 games there without winning.

Goals by Larry Murphy and Alan Haworth gave Washington an early 2-0 lead, and the Capitals went on to defeat Montreal, 3-2, Friday night. The Canadiens are 0-8-5 at Capital Centre since last winning there on Feb. 25, 1979.

Before the losing streak started, the Canadiens were 14-0-1 playing on Washington’s home ice.

Murphy, the leading point-scorer among Washington’s defensemen, scored on a power play at 6:27 of the first period, and Haworth made it 2-0 at the 8:54 mark, for his career-high 26th goal.

Kjell Dahlin, who missed Montreal’s last three games because of the flu, scored on a power-play goal at 14:33 before the first period ended.

Bengt Gustafsson gave Washington a 3-1 lead with the only goal of the second period, converting a breakaway pass from Lou Franceschetti at 17:10.

Washington goalie Pete Peeters, back in action after missing five games with a strained stomach muscle, held the Canadiens in check until Bobby Smith skated around the net to score at 12:23 of the final period.

Vancouver 5, Winnipeg 2--Thomas Gradin’s goal with 2:06 left in the second period broke a 2-2 tie, and the Canucks went on to win at Vancouver and move into third place in the Smythe Division, one point ahead of the Kings.