MONTREAL -- T.J. Oshie's second goal of the game broke a tie in the third period and lifted the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
Tom Wilson also scored for Washington (18-5-1), which posted a sixth consecutive victory despite being outshot 35-19.
Lars Eller and Brian Flynn scored for Montreal (19-5-3), which ended a six-game run without a regulation time loss.
The Capitals improved to 10-0-2 in games at the Bell Centre since 2009 and goalie Braden Holtby ran his career record against Montreal to 7-0-2.
Washington needed Holtby at his best as the Canadiens outworked the Capitals most of the game and had the majority of scoring chances.
Mike Condon, replacing injured Carey Price in the Montreal net, allowed three goals on his first 16 shots.
The Capitals scored on their first shot of the game as Brooks Laich picked off a pass in the Montreal zone and fed Wilson for a quick shot that found a way through Condon's legs.
The Canadiens were outshooting Washington 13-1 in the second period alone when they finally beat Holtby as Eller slipped the puck under his pads from the edge of the crease at 10:08 -- two seconds after a power play expired.
But with 44 seconds left in the period, Oshie's shot deflected off Condon high in air, landed on the goalie's shoulder and fell into the net.
The Canadiens got their sixth short-handed goal of the season 2:30 into the third when Paul Byron won a puck along the boards and sent Flynn on a breakaway to deke Holtby and score.
But Oshie deflected a Karl Alzner shot in the slot and saw the puck go in off the post at 8:17 for the eventual winner.
The Canadiens next play at Carolina while Washington moves on to Winnipeg, both on Saturday.
Notes: Montreal's Michael Bournival, out nearly a year with a concussion, cleared waivers and was assigned to AHL St. John's. . . Condon made his fourth straight start . . . The Capitals had not played since their win in Toronto on Saturday.
