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Avalanche Flatten Capitals in First Period, Hold On For 6-3 Win

Jon Sorensen
Photo: @ColoradoAvalanche

The Colorado Avalanche stormed out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening frame and held on for a 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals Monday evening at Capital One Arena. The Capitals gave up three goals in the first eight minutes of the game and Braden Holtby was immediately replaced by Ilya Samsonov. The Avs would add a power play goal for a 4-0 lead at the first intermission. The Capitals would finally get on the board with a tally from Lars Eller early in the second, and TJ Oshie would add a tally late in the period for a 4-2 Avs lead at the second intermission. The Avs would stretch their lead to 5-2 early in the final frame before Alex Ovechkin scored late in the period to make it 5-3. The Capitals threatened to further close the gap before the Avs added an empty net goal for the 6-3 win.

The Capitals remain winless at home (0-1-2) so far this season, as their record falls to 3-2-2 on the season. They are back in action Wednesday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 PM.

GAME STATS

STARTERS
Braden Holtby (3.67 GAA, .868 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Philipp Grubauer (2.33 GAA, .931 sv%) got the start in goal for the Avalanche. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

Michal Kempny (hamstring) did not play tonight vs Colorado. Head Coach Todd Reirden said before the game he’s hopeful Kempny will be able to play in one of the other two home games this week.

FIRST PERIOD
The Avalanche opened the scoring with a goal from Erik Johnson at 3:42 of the first period. Nasem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky were credited with the assists.

The Avalanche would quickly make it 2-0 with a goal from Nikita Zadorov at 6:00 of the first frame.

Nazem Kadri would make it 3-0 at 7:54 of the first period. The Capitals would pull starting netminder Braden Holtby and replace him with Ilya Samsonov.

The Avs would make it 4-0 with a power play goal from Mikko Rantanen at 9:25 of the first period.

Tyler Lewington and Valeri Nichushkin would drop the gloves following Colorado’s 4th goal.

The period would conclude with the Avalanche holding a 4-0 lead. The Avalanche led in shots on goal 10-4 through the first 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would get on the board with a goal from Lars Eller at 6:56 of the middle frame.

The Capitals would cut Colorado’s lead to 4-2 with a goal from TJ Oshie at 15:28 of the second period.

The second period would end with the Avs lead 4-2. Washington led in shots on goal 16-7 for the middle frame, and 20-17 after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD
The Avalanche would regain a three-goal lead with a tally from Matt Nieto at 4:24 of the final frame. The goal was setup by a blunder by Ilya Samsonov behind the goal.

Alex Ovechkin would add a goal for the Capitals at 17:39 to make it 5-3. Evgeny Kuznetsov and

John Carlson would appear to score 15 seconds later to make it 5-4, but the Avalanche called for review and the play was deemed offsides. Colorado would add an empty net goal for the 6-3 win.

SHAVINGS

By Jon Sorensen

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