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Varlamov, Capitals stonewall Montreal

Dec 29, 2010 - 7:47 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves to record his fourth career shutout as Washington subdued Montreal, 3-0, at the Verizon Center.

Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green and Jay Beagle posted goals for the Capitals, who have won four of their last five games. It was the first meeting between the teams since Montreal eliminated Washington in the nation's capital last season in game seven of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Washington will next take the ice on New Year's Day in the Winter Classic against the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

"We can't get too high, we have to feel like we have for the last week, to keep building and building," Green said. "We haven't accomplished anything yet, there is still a lot to learn. We get to play in a great event on Saturday, so it will be exciting."

Carey Price stopped 27 shots in defeat for the Canadiens, who have dropped two in a row and four out of their last five games.

Washington scored twice in the final four minutes of the first period to grab the lead for good.

Beagle emerged from behind the net and, with his back to Price, roofed a backhander over the netminder's right shoulder at 16:20.

Three minutes later, Nicklas Backstrom made a slick cross-ice pass to Green, who beat Price high to the shortside with a one-timer with 37 ticks.

The Canadiens pulled Price with slightly more than a minute to play before Ovechkin sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 31.4 ticks remaining.

Game Notes

Washington finished December with a 5-6-3 mark, its first losing month since November, 2008...The Caps are 16-0-1 when leading after two periods and 21-0-2 when scoring at least three goals...The Capitals killed off all five of their short-handed situations and have been successful on 22 of their last 23 penalty kills...Varlamov has won all three career decisions against Montreal. Price is 2-2-3 in seven games versus Washington...Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges was scratched from the lineup, ending a streak of 150 consecutive games played...Montreal acquired defenseman James Wisniewski from the New York Islanders earlier in the day for two draft choices...He will join the team on Wednesday for its game against Tampa Bay.