The reeling Washington Capitals confronted a tall process Saturday evening to proper themselves. The defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche arrived at Capital One Area in robust type, close to the highest of the Western Convention.
Washington
Capitals no match for the champs, fall to Avs for fourth straight loss
The hosts despatched 32 photographs at Avalanche netminder Alexandar Georgiev, however none acquired previous him. The Capitals’ greatest probability within the ultimate 20 minutes got here from Anthony Mantha, who was stopped by Georgiev with a routine save with underneath seven minutes remaining.
“I don’t assume we put ourselves in sufficient good positions to attain targets tonight,” Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette mentioned. “All the things was extra perimeter than the inside, however simply with the adversity all through the course of the sport, we didn’t do a very good job of dealing with it.”
Darcy Kuemper, in his first recreation towards his former workforce since signing right here as a free agent within the offseason, stopped 25 photographs.
Nursing a 2-0 lead halfway into the third interval, Colorado (10-5-1) delivered a dagger when Jacob MacDonald ripped a puck towards Kuemper that deflected in off Andrew Cogliano’s skate to place the Avalanche up 3-0. Artturi Lehkonen scored off a slick passing play with 3:48 left to supply the sport’s ultimate rating.
The loss marked the second time this season the Capitals have been shut out (the primary was a 2-0 loss to Dallas on Oct. 27). The Capitals are 2-6-3 of their previous 11 video games.
“I really feel like we had a greater begin to this recreation than we’ve had the previous few. It’s very irritating. I really feel like we’re such a very good hockey workforce and it’s sort of gotten into our heads just a little bit,” ahead Marcus Johansson mentioned. “And we simply set to work by means of it, we acquired to discover a solution to work collectively to get by means of this.”
Washington, which outshot the Avalanche 14-7 within the opening interval, managed nearly all of play within the first 20 minutes, however a pair of tripping penalties late proved pricey.
Gifted a five-on-three probability within the ultimate two minutes of the interval, defenseman Cale Makar delivered together with his one-timer from the left circle with 20 seconds remaining. Kuemper turned away a flurry of possibilities earlier within the energy play however couldn’t get to Makar’s blast.
“We began with the correct intentions,” Laviolette mentioned. “Within the first quarter-hour we have been pushing, we have been good defensively, and, like I mentioned, conditions occurred on the ice, and I simply don’t assume they responded very properly to them.”
The Avalanche doubled the lead with a highlight-reel tally from star Nathan MacKinnon at 13:14 of the second interval. MacKinnon displayed some dazzling stickhandling, dangling the puck previous Nicolas Aube-Kubel with ease earlier than he flipped a shot previous Kuemper.
Here’s what else to know concerning the Capitals’ loss:
Aube-Kubel got here again from his three-game suspension Saturday. He acquired the ban after an unlawful examine to the pinnacle of Tampa Bay’s Cal Foote on Nov. 11. Aube-Kubel mentioned he understood why he acquired the suspension however hoped it might have been shorter.
“It’s powerful as a result of he was in a weak scenario and it occurred so quick,” Aube-Kubel mentioned Saturday morning. “When you’ve got a play in your head, you need to make it occur that manner. Hopefully he’s higher. Reached out to [Foote] and made certain he’s okay.”
Aube-Kubel’s return to the lineup Saturday additionally meant just a little extra whereas enjoying the Avalanche. Aube-Kubel gained the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche final season, scoring a career-high 11 targets and 11 assists in 67 video games.
Backstrom, Oshie follow
Nicklas Backstrom practiced Saturday for the primary time since he underwent hip resurfacing surgical procedure within the offseason. Backstrom has been skating with Tom Wilson (knee) away from the workforce since late October.
“It’s enjoyable to see him on the market,” Johansson mentioned. “It’s clearly a very good signal. He appeared good. He’s acquired that presence too, I feel, when he’s simply round and on the market. I feel it’s a very good begin to have him on the market with the group.”
There may be nonetheless no timetable for Backstrom’s return, however he didn’t look to be in ache throughout Saturday’s morning skate.
“It was good,” Laviolette mentioned of Backstrom working towards once more. “It’s a part of the method the place they do loads of stuff behind this wall after which they do stuff that we don’t essentially see on the ice they usually progress and progress. And that’s the subsequent development, is to get out with our guys and begin to transfer just a little bit.”
T.J. Oshie additionally practiced in a noncontact jersey. He’s nonetheless out indefinitely, and there’s no timetable for his return. He sustained a lower-body in Nashville on Oct. 29.
Washington went 0 for two on the facility play towards Colorado, extending a stretch that’s now 1 for 26 over the previous six video games. The unit’s solely aim was in a 5-4 shootout loss to St. Louis on Thursday, when John Carlson scored late within the third interval.
The Capitals solely had one shot on aim by means of their first two power-play possibilities.