Washington acted as inhospitable hosts in the opening 20 minutes, going ahead 1-0 inside the three-minute mark on a rebound goal from Hendrix Lapierre. Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael added singles before the frame was through, giving the Capitals a 3-0 lead at the break.
But the Flames chipped away in period two, outshooting their opponents 12-6 in the period and finally at the 16:08 mark, they were rewarded. After a chance from Ryan Strome, the puck cycled back down to Olli Määtta, who pinched from the left point to the bottom of the circle before feathering a cross-crease pass to Gridin. The young Russian took the puck off his skate, then snapped a shot into the top corner to put Calgary on the board.