Washington outshot Montreal 18-8 in the second period.

“They got two quick goals at the end of the day,” Canadiens forward Josh Anderson said. “We stopped playing for 10 minutes and that’s what cost us the game tonight.”

Montreal forward Jake Evans shot at an open net as Thompson dove across the crease but hit the left post at 7:10 of the third period.

“I think we put up a pretty good fight in the third,” Montreal captain Nick Suzuki said. “Had a bunch of scoring chances that could have went in, but I think overall we’re not that satisfied with how we’re playing right now. We need to go home and regroup and really bear down in these next couple of games at home.”

Thompson preserved the 2-1 lead with a stick save on a deflection by Dvorak at 15:38 of the third period.

McMichael scored into an empty net at 19:58 for the 3-1 final

“We knew they were going to come out in the third just like they did last game,” Thompson said. “It’s easy to get into it when you make those saves. You’re definitely right back in the game. It could easily swing the other way if a couple of those go in and you’re fighting it, right?”

NOTES: Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-7 series are 353-56 (.863) all-time, including 266-34 (.887) when starting at home. … Leonard, 20, is the youngest Capitals player to register a postseason point (assist) since a 20-year-old Andre Burakovsky did in Game 4 of the 2015 Second Round. … It was Dvorak’s third career playoff goal and first since Game 3 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers with the Arizona Coyotes.