MONTREAL — Just two nights after the Capitals managed just one goal against the Detroit Red Wings, Evgeny Kuznetsov returned to the lineup with two goals and Nicklas Backstrom had four assists as Washington defeated the Canadiens, 6-4, on Saturday night.

Capitals forward Tom Wilson added two goals with the other two scores coming from center Jay Beagle and right wing T.J. Oshie.

Washington's third straight win and its seventh in the past eight games has the team five points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins for first place in the Metropolitan Division with seven games remaining.

On a three-game trip against three teams well out of the playoff race, the Capitals have done what they're supposed to do — collect points against bottom-feeders to secure their postseason position as the NHL regular season draws to a close.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan, The Washington Post