Capitals blow 3-goal lead before pulling away from Flames

Field Level Media|published: Mon 9th March, 21:52 2026

NHL: Calgary Flames at Washington Capitals

Mar 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Connor McMichael (24) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Connor McMichael's second goal of the game broke a third-period tie and the host Washington Capitals recovered after blowing a three-goal lead to beat the Calgary Flames 7-3 on Monday.

Justin Sourdif scored once in a three-point game and Hendrix Lapierre produced one goal and one assist for the Capitals, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Washington's Tom Wilson, Ethen Frank and Ryan Leonard added a goal apiece, and goaltender Logan Thompson made 23 saves.

Washington is 11-2-1 in its past 14 meetings with Calgary.

Matvei Gridin, Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich tallied for the Flames, who have one win in six games (1-4-1). Goalie Devin Cooley stopped 22 shots.

After the Capitals surrendered a 3-0 lead, McMichael netted a power-play goal to restore Washington's lead at 10:52 of the final frame, finding the mark from the slot.

Sourdif extended Washington's edge 23 seconds later thanks to a shot from the right faceoff dot that ricocheted off a defenseman and into the cage.

Frank added an empty-net goal at 17:14, and Leonard rounded out the scoring with a breakaway goal in the final seconds.

The Capitals held a three-goal edge after the first period. Lapierre opened the scoring at 2:45 by burying a long rebound chance, his third goal in three career games against the Flames.

Wilson doubled the lead with another long rebound goal, finding the mark from the left circle at 9:13 of the first.

McMichael made it 3-0 when he converted an open chance from the slot at 17:43 of the opening frame.

The Flames responded with a trio of goals late in the second period. Gridin put Calgary on the board at 16:08 by finishing a sharp-angled chance from the bottom of the right circle.

Calgary then scored a pair of short-handed goals 76 seconds apart, the sixth-fastest span in club history.

Coleman made it a one-goal deficit when he buried a breakaway opportunity at 17:39.

Sharangovich tied the clash, finishing a golden chance set up when Joel Farabee stole the puck.

--Field Level Media

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