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Justice is served: Caps beat Avalanche 4-3

By Chris Cerullo

 2 Comments

February 7, 2019 9:51 pm

The Washington Capitals were back in action during this fine home stretch against a foe in the Colorado Avalanche that they have not met with in three months. Philipp Grubauer was back in town in an Avs sweater for the first time since he was dealt to Colorado in the offseason.

Andre Burakovsky got the good guys on the board first with a great tip in front that saw its way past Semyon Varlamov. Nathan Mackinnon tied things up with a bank shot, but Evgeny Kuznetsov restored the Caps lead on a power play shortly after. Matt Niskanen extended the lead, but the Avs would not go away as goals from Mikko Rantanen and Colin Wilson sent this bad boy to OT.

Evgeny Kuznetsov wins it in overtime!

Caps beat Avalanche 4-3!

  • The Caps first period effort was actually a pretty solid one and they should have came away with a 2-0 lead if not for some terrible officiating. That quick whistle was…oof. Nicklas Backstrom was robbed of his 14th of the year.
  • The penalty Devante Smith-Pelly took in the first period is the exact penalty that the Caps need to eliminate entirely. Pointless, careless, offensive zone infractions should lead to punishment by the coaches.
  • Welcome back to the best backup in the biz, Philipp Grubauer! Grubi was one of the underrated stars of the Cup celebration and the dude just loves DC and I love him.

  • Tim Peel is very bad at his job. I feel like I can make this a bullet because I very rarely complain about NHL officiating. It’s a ridiculously difficult, thankless job, and Peel is still bad at it. If he was any worse at said job, he’d be Ernie Grunfeld.
  • Very similar period to the first for the Caps in the second and that’s a good thing. Both teams are getting their chances, but the boys in red just seemed a tad more dangerous.
  • The power play was a very solid 2-for-4 through forty minutes (I’m counting Nicky’s non-goal because I’m petty like that). This is hopefully a sign of good things to come.
  • The Avalanche’s AJ Greer was a huge Alex Ovechkin fan growing up and he was looking to get an autograph from The Great Eight and I just want to say…get in line AJ.

  • Caps third period was very similar to the first two from a play standpoint alone. I don’t have much to add to that as things got a little complicated towards the end with penalties and the like.
  • Tom Wilson beat the ever loving crap out of Ian Cole for the latter’s part in a nasty high hit on Evgeny Kuznetsov that sent the talented center to the Caps locker room. Kuzy returned for overtime and lets hope Cole is reprimanded if need be.
  • Hey, Andre Burakovsky was pretty darn good tonight after his mini promotion of sorts. He scored his seventh goal of the season and was hounding that biscuit all game. I see you, lil Dre.
  • Everyone do yourself a favor and go check out the save Linus Ullmark made tonight for the Buffalo Sabres.
  • Pheonix Copley was not good enough in this one. Two very bad, bad goals against.
  • That OT goal was some sweet, sweet justice.

Caps have the Florida Panthers next for the first time since mid-October. The boys from the Sunshine State should be a team the Caps beat.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Avalanche

Headline photo: Patrick McDermott

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