(Sports Network) - The Capitals knew they were taking a chance when they handed the starting goaltending duties to Semyon Varlamov during last season's playoffs. After a rough start to the season, Varlamov is making that decision a good one.
The 21-year-old will likely get a chance to build off his first career regular-season shutout tonight versus the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
Varlamov took over the starting duties early in last season's first-round playoff matchup with the Rangers. He responded by leading the Capitals to a seven-game series win, notching two shutouts in the process, before enduring a rough seven-game loss to the eventual champion Penguins.
He then played in six games in October, going 5-0-0 but posting a 3.20 goals- against average and .895 save percentage in the process. The Russian netminder has been better in November, going 4-1-2 with a 1.70 GAA and .943 save percentage in seven games.
Varlamov notched his first shutout Wednesday versus the Sabres, backstopping a 2-0 victory with 25 saves in a career-high third straight start.
Alex Ovechkin scored on Washington's first shot of the game, his 17th goal of the season, before exiting in the third period after receiving a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta.
"I think it was a pretty clean hit, but he fell into the boards," said Ovechkin. "It's not a bad hit, he just fell face-first into the boards."
Eric Fehr also scored for the Capitals, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Mike Green added an assist to run his point streak to eight games, recording a goal and 11 helpers over the run.
Though forward Alexander Semin missed his fifth straight game with a wrist injury, Milan Jurcina returned to the blueline after sitting out six games with a lower-body injury. However, fellow defenders Shaone Morrisonn (head) and Tom Poti (upper body) have each missed the last three games and are doubtful for tonight.
Varlamov was not in net for Washington's 3-2 loss to Montreal on November 20, with Michal Neuvirth yielding three goals on 22 shots. The Capitals have still won four of their last six over the Canadiens, but have lost two of three and five of their last seven in Montreal.
The Canadiens limp into this game after losing a 3-1 contest in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Max Pacioretty had the lone goal, but left the contest early with an injury.
Carey Price yielded three goals on 30 shots for the Canadiens, who were 3-0-1 in their previous four games. Price made 32 saves in the win over Washington last week.
"I thought at times we were all right, other times we struggled," said Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin. "[The Penguins are] a team that [when] you make mistakes, they got people that can capitalize."
Montreal hopes that Scott Gomez can return tonight from a groin injury suffered last Friday versus Washington that has caused him to miss the last three games. He is questionable for tonight along with Jaroslav Spacek (lower body) and Andrei Kostitsyn (foot).
Forward Benoit Pouliot, who was acquired from Minnesota on Monday despite being sidelined with a wrist injury, could make his Canadiens debut tonight.