Alex Ovechkin returns with a goal, but Capitals can’t stop Avalanche

Tuesday introduced Wilson’s eighth sport since he returned from ACL surgical procedure on his left knee. He had posted two objectives and one help. Middle Nicklas Backstrom and winger T.J. Oshie additionally had been out of motion Tuesday — Backstrom with a non-covid sickness and Oshie for private causes.

T.J. Oshie’s again has lengthy been a priority. He’s attempting not to consider it.

Washington was down two objectives getting into the third interval after Colorado’s Alex Newhook beat goaltender Darcy Kuemper (23 saves) late within the second. Ovechkin lower Colorado’s lead in half with a one-timer from the left circle at 9:44, his thirty first objective of the season and No. 811 in his profession. Ovechkin — who recorded 23:32 of ice time, most amongst Washington’s forwards — stated after the sport that he was “not one hundred pc” however performed anyway.

A formidable exhibiting by Colorado goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (37 saves) saved the Capitals from discovering the tying objective because the defending Stanley Cup champion seized its sixth straight win. Washington has dropped 5 of seven however performed significantly better than it did in Saturday’s 6-2 defeat in Las Vegas.

“We strive laborious,” heart Evgeny Kuznetsov stated. “That was a reasonably aggressive sport from each groups, and so they acquired their objectives. We had our push; we made it a one-goal sport. In the long run, I felt like we acquired some beauty — we simply didn’t rating.”

The loss ended Washington’s three-game journey out west. The Capitals’ subsequent sport is Thursday at residence in opposition to rival Pittsburgh. Each groups have 56 factors and maintain Jap Convention wild-card spots, however the Penguins have three video games in hand — and Buffalo, Florida and the New York Islanders are inside 5 factors of them each.

“If we simply keep it up, persist with our sport plan and proceed to grind away, then attempt to transfer our means up the standings each night time, then I feel that’s good indicators [of what is] to come back for us,” winger Conor Sheary stated.

Washington had its possibilities within the first interval. Sheary acquired two seems within the first 10 minutes; he hit the submit on a breakaway.

Artturi Lehkonen gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead with 11:03 left when he took a feed from Nathan MacKinnon off the frenzy and beat Kuemper. MacKinnon took a giant bump from defenseman Dmitry Orlov however managed to poke the puck to Lehkonen for the objective. The help was MacKinnon’s 700th profession level.

Andrew Cogliano gave Colorado a 2-0 lead early within the second interval by redirecting Kurtis MacDermid’s shot. It appeared Cogliano was attempting to get out of the best way, however as an alternative the puck deflected off him and located its means into the web.

Sheary lastly lit the lamp at 4:48 of the second, redirecting Martin Fehervary’s level shot previous Georgiev. The objective ended a 12-game drought; Sheary’s most up-to-date objective was Dec. 27 on the New York Rangers.

Right here’s what else to know in regards to the Capitals’ loss:

From final week: Tom Wilson is again, and life for Capitals followers is somewhat bit higher

Backstrom is listed as day-to-day, and his standing for Thursday is unsure. The 35-year-old has three assists in seven video games since getting back from offseason hip resurfacing surgical procedure.

Oshie, who has 10 objectives and 7 assists in 32 video games, was out after he returned to Washington for the start of his fourth little one.

Aliaksei Protas performed in his first NHL sport since Jan. 5. The younger ahead centered the third line, skating between Sheary and Anthony Mantha. He was on the ice for 12:20 and put three pictures on objective.

Protas was referred to as up from the American Hockey League earlier than the Capitals’ three-game journey. He carried out effectively for Washington to start out the season, however the returns of Backstrom and Wilson compelled him out of the lineup. With Hershey over the previous few weeks, Protas performed on the wing due to the Bears’ depth at heart.

“I believed Protas got here in and gave us actually good minutes,” Laviolette stated. “Good for him to come back up and never have performed for a bit right here and soar proper again in and look good.”

Kuemper and winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel returned to Colorado for the primary time since they received the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche final season. Kuemper stated it was particular to play in Denver in opposition to his former teammates, however he had confronted former groups prior to now so this sport was no completely different.

Kuemper and Aube-Kubel obtained their championship rings when Colorado beat the Capitals in Washington in November, however the Avalanche welcomed the pair again to Denver with a video tribute celebrating their Stanley Cup contributions. Kuemper acquired choked up after the sport when requested in regards to the second.

“It was quite a lot of combined feelings,” he stated, tears forming in his eyes. “Fairly particular being again. Yeah, it meant loads.”