Avalanche Down Capitals, 6-3; Alex Ovechkin Scores In 6th Straight Game


Photo: X/@Capitals

The Washington Capitals fell to the Colorado Avalanche, 6-3, Tuesday night at Capital One Arena in the District. The loss drops the Capitals record to 23-21-8 (54 points) on the season.

After giving up two quick goals in the first five minutes of the opening frame, Beck Malenstyn and Connor McMichael scored a pair of goals just 44 seconds apart to tie the game midway through the first period. Colorado pulled away in the middle frame with a pair of goals to make it 4-2 at the second intermission. Alex Ovechkin added a power play goal midway through the final frame, to make it 4-3, but Colorado added two empty net goals late to seal the 6-3 victory.

STARTERS

Charlie Lindgren (10-7-4, 2.58 GAA, .915 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Alexandar Georgiev (27-13-3, 2.94 GAA, .899 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Avalanche. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha – Connor McMichael – Aliaksei Protas
Max Pacioretty – Mike Sgarbossa – Nicolas Aube Kubel
Beck Malenstyn – Nic Dowd – Tom Wilson

Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin – NickJensen
Joel Edmundson – Ethan Bear

Scratches: Alex Alexeyev, Matthew Phillips, Trevor van Riemsdyk (illness), Sonny Milano, Nicklas Backstrom (hip).

1ST PERIOD

The Avalanche wasted little time in notching the game’s first tally. Ross Colton (11) dented the twine on a breakaway at 2:46 of the first stanza.

Colorado quickly made it 2-o on a tally from Devon Toews (9) at 4:57 of the first frame.

But the Capitals quickly answered. Beck Malenstyn (5) collected a loose puck in front of the net and slammed it home at 9:16 of the first period. Martin Fehervary (10) and Nic Dowd (7)  had the helpers.

Just 44 second later the Capitals tied the game on a tally from Connor McMichael (8) at 10:00 of the first frame. Anthony Mantha (9) had the lone helper.

The period concluded with the game tied, 2-2. The Capitals led in five-on-five shot attempts, 21-14. The 4th line of Malenstyn-Dowd-Wilson led the Avs top line of Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen in xGF .38 to .32.

2ND PERIOD

The Avs regained the lead early in the middle frame. Artturi Lehkonen (4) retrieved a loose puck and finished to the back post at 8:50 of the middle frame to make it 3-2.

Colorado added a power play goal from Mikko Rantanen (29) at 17:03 of the middle frame.

The Avalanche held the 4-2 lead into the second intermission. Colorado led in five-on-five shot attempts, 25-11 in the middle frame.

3RD PERIOD

The Capitals cut the Avalanche lead to 4-3 on a power play goal from Alex Ovechkin (14) at 9:00, giving him a goal in six consecutive games. John Carlson (27) and Anthony Mantha (10) had the helpers.

But the Avalanche added two empty net goals late to seal the victory, 6-3.

SHAVINGS

  • Beck Malenstyn and Connor McMichael scored 44 seconds apart to tie the game 2-2. It marks the fourth time this season the Capitals have scored two goals within one minute.
  • Alex Ovechkin is the third player in NHL history with a goal streak of six or more games at age 38 or older, joining Brett Hull (7 GP in 2003-04) and Johnny Bucyk (6 GP in 1974-75).
  • Ovechkin’s career long goal streak is seven games, which he accomplished in his rookie season in 2005-06 (2/10/06-3/8/06: 8g-5a–13p in 7 GP).
  • Ovechkin, who has scored 14 goals in 49 games this season, has recorded 17 points (8g, 9a) in his last 16 games.

By Jon Sorensen

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.





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