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Game preview
The Washington Capitals (35-27-8, 78 points) will close out their four-game homestand with a matinee tilt against the Colorado Avalanche (45-13-10, 100 points), the NHL’s best team. The Avalanche beat the Capitals 5-2 in the two teams’ previous matchup at Ball Arena on January 19.
The Capitals are currently riding a meager two-game winning streak after defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-1 and the New Jersey Devils 2-1 last week. Logan Thompson nearly notched shutouts in both games before giving up a goal late in the third period of both victories.
Alex Ovechkin, who currently is sitting on 999 career goals, regular season and playoffs combined, will have his second opportunity at home to hit 1000, joining only Wayne Gretzky on that incredible milestone. Once Sunday’s game is complete, the Capitals will embark on a three-game road trip that will see them play St. Louis, Utah, and Vegas.
Colorado arrives in DC after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 at the United Center on Friday. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in all major offensive categories, posting 114 points (45g, 69a) in 67 games. His 45 goals pace the NHL while his 114 points sit third behind Nikita Kucherov (118) and Connor McDavid (116).
Puck drop for today’s game is at 12:30 pm ET/10:30 am MT. The game is airing on Monumental Sports Network with Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin on the call.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Colorado Avalanche
Goalie matchup
Tunnel Shenanigans
1st period
Puck is dropped. Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier and Hutson-Roy get the start.
Cole Hutson with some dazzling puck-handling and great setup feeds that just miss.
Hutson takes his first penalty after Nathan MacKinnon spins him around with his speed down the wing.
Penalty kill
Cole Hutson holding penalty (2 mins) at 3:14
Delayed penalty call coming on the Avs. Caps kill the penalty. Roy gets TVR up high reaching for the puck.
Power play
Nicolas Roy high-sticking penalty (2 mins) at 5:23
Blackwood makes a huge save on Dylan Strome during an odd-man rush at the end of the Caps power play.
Both teams look very sleepy for the start of this one.
Toews cross-checks Ethen Frank hard into the right goal post. Somehow that wasn’t a penalty. Frank immediately went down to the locker room.
The Avs did not respect Justin Sourdif’s speed, and they paid for it. Sourds on the breakaway. 1-0 Caps.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Justin Sourdif (14). Assists: C. McMichael (25), M. Roy (15). Time: 11:53
Logan Thompson with a huge right pad save on Martin Necas downlow wide open.
Power play
Parker Kelly slashing penalty (2 mins) at 14:50
Caps can’t score again on the power play.
Nathan MacKinnon left wide open down low. He sends his backhand chip shot high and over the net.
At intermission: The Capitals improbably lead 1-0! Shots on goal are 8-6 Capitals.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Ethen Frank will not return due to a lower-body injury.
Ovi dumps Cale Makar as the Avs defenseman makes a move to the net. Probably for the best there.
Penalty kill
Alex Ovechkin hooking penalty (2 mins) at 4:29
Connor McMichael pumps a huge shot on net shorthanded, Blackwood makes the save.
McMichael hits Tom Wilson on a 2-on-1 shorthanded break, but Blackwood again turns the chance away.
Beauvillier takes a forearm shiver from Burns and sold it incredibly well. Caps back to the power play.
Power play
Brent Burns high-stick penalty (2 mins) at 16:17
Parker Kelly nearly scores on a semi-breakaway.
Capitals can’t score on the PP. Back to 5v5.
At intermission: The Capitals still lead 1-0. Ugly, ugly period. Shots on goal are 15-14 Caps. Craig Laughlin called this the team’s blueprint for winning. Woof, it is painful to watch.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Logan Thompson gets a dump in, passes it right to Necas from behind the net, who then chips it out to Landeskog for a layup. Just a horrible play. stevedanglequote.mp4
1-1 tie
Goal: Gabriel Landeskog (10). Assists: M. Necas (53). Time: 1:05
Caps turnover. Roy scores in front of the net.
2-1 Colorado Avalanche
Goal: Nicolas Roy (8). Assists: Z. Bardakov (9). Time: 6:03
Blackwood stops PLD on a backhand attempt from point-blank range.
Power play
Josh Manson tripping penalty (2 mins) at 7:34
Alex Ovechkin hits 1,000 career goals, regular season and playoffs. It’s his first power-play goal at home this season. Cole Hutson registers his first career NHL assist.
2-2 tie
PPG: Alex Ovechkin (26). Assists: D. Strome (35), C. Hutson (1). Time: 14:17
Alex Ovechkin scores 1,000th career goal, regular season and playoffs combined
At the end of regulation: The Capitals and Avalanche are tied 2-2. Caps led in shots 22-21.
Overtime
Puck is dropped.
The Avalanche are dominating. Shot after shot after shot.
Backdoor tap-in for Brock Nelson. Caps were dead tired. Game over.
3-2 tie
OTGWG: Brock Nelson (32). Assists: M. Necas (54). Time: 1:22
Capitals lose 3-2. Ovi scored 1,000 so that’s a win regardless.
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