Capitals Melt Avalanche, 5-2; Connor McMichael Scores Twice, Extends Point Streak to Five Games


Photo: @Capitals/X

The Washington Capitals defeated the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 5-2 Friday night at Ball Arena. The win improved the Capitals’ record to 11-4-1 and 23 points on the season. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made seventeen saves in the victory.

The Lineup

Aliaksei Protas – Dylan Strome – Alex Ovechkin
Connor McMichael – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana – Lars Eller – Andrew Mangiapane
Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Taylor Raddysh

Jakob Chychrun – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin – Matt Roy
Martin Fehervary – Trevor van Riemsdyk

Lindgren
Logan Thompson

Scratched: Center Hendrix Lapierre and defensemen Dylan McIlrath and Alexander Alexeyev

Injured: Left-wing Sonny Milano (upper-body), center Nicklas Backstrom (hip), and right-wing T.J. Oshie (back)

First Period

Just two minutes into the opening frame, Colorado would get on the board first with a goal from center Parker Kelly.

At the 4:25 mark, the Capitals would tie it a one-a-piece thanks to Vrana (3) on a power-play. Dubois (9) and Ovechkin (10) had the assists.

McMichael (11) would give Washington a 2-1 lead  just over three minutes later, coming off assists from Wilson (7) and van Riemsdyk (8).

Quick Stats

SOG: 5-5

Face-Off Win %: 50%-50%

Hits: 7-3 Capitals

Second Period

McMichael (12) would pot his second of the night only 1:53 into the middle frame to make it 3-1 for the Capitals.

The Avalanche would get one back to make it a 3-2 game with a tally from right-wing Nikolai Kovalenko at the 4:03 mark.

Chychrun (4) would join in on the scoring action for Washington, giving the visiting team a 4-2 lead midway through the period. Dubois (10) assisted.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 15-13 Avalanche

Face-Off Win %: 51.2% (Avalanche), 48.8% (Capitals)

Total Hits: 16-8 Capitals

Third Period

Sandin (3) would add an empty-net goal for Washington for a 5-2 final score.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 20-19 Capitals

Face-Off Win %: 52.3% (Capitals), 47.7% (Avalanche)

Total Hits: 18-14 Capitals

Notes Through the Game

  • Washington has now scored three goals in their last four power-play opportunities dating back to Nov. 9 at St. Louis.
  • Dubois has recorded five assists in his last seven games.
  • McMichael extended his point streak to five games (4g-2a-6p). McMichael’s five-game point streak is the longest of his career.
  • Ovechkin joined Gordie Howe (6g-18a-24p in 1968-69) as the second player age 39 years or older to score 20 points through the first 16 games of a season.
  • Wilson has tallied four assists in his last four games.
  • McMichael registered his fourth multi-goal performance in 16 games this season. He entered 2024-25 with two multi-goal games through his first 155 career games played.
  • Sandin has established a career-long four-game points streak (3g-1a-4p).

The Capitals continue their three-game Western swing with a stop in Sin City clashing with Golden Knights on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena. Monumental Sports Network and NHL Network will have the coverage beginning at 8 PM ET.

By Della Young

About Della Young

Della Young is an aspiring novelist and screenwriter who earned a BFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University in 2021. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Screenwriting from Regent University and is writing her debut novel. Della comes from a family of big Capitals fans and became inspired to start writing for hockey in 2019. Follow Della on X: @dellayoung





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