Final
Ovechkin lifts Capitals over Avalanche
Nov 21, 2014 - 5:54 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Ovechkin scored late in the third period to lift the Washington Capitals over the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2, on Thursday.Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin each had one goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have won two in a row. Jason Chimera also lit the lamp.
Braden Holtby stopped 27-of-29 shots in the win.
Daniel Briere and Tyson Barrie scored for the Avalanche, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Reto Berra made 20 saves.
"I thought we were outstanding defensively," said Colorado coach Patrick Roy. "It's a tough situation losing a game where you think you played a good game, but sometimes those things happen."
Ovechkin scored the game-winning goal with 5:56 remaining in the third. He received a pass from Brooks Orpik and made his way around Avalanche defenseman Jan Hejda. Ovechkin fired the puck wide but took the carom off the end boards and scored from the side of the net.
"It was a lucky bounce," said Ovechkin. "Obviously when I [made] a move I didn't see the goalie was a little bit up so I would probably keep skating and put it in the empty net, but luck was on my side and I was able to put it in."
Earlier, Backstrom took a cross-ice pass from Ovechkin and scored from the right circle to open the scoring at 1:04 of the middle stanza.
The Avalanche tied the game on Briere's goal at 2:53. Nathan MacKinnon's shot from in close resulted in a rebound for Briere, who put the puck past Holtby.
The Capitals took a 2-1 lead on Chimera's goal at 12:10. He beat Berra with a shot from the left circle.
Colorado tied things up at 6:44 of the third. Gabriel Landeskog carried the puck to the left circle before passing to Barrie, who tipped the puck past Holtby.
Game Notes
The Avs had won four straight against the Capitals ... Colorado goaltender Semyon Varlamov missed the game with a groin injury ... Avalanche forward Alex Tanguay left the ice and went to the locker room at 7:29 of the second after he was hit in the face by an Ovechkin shot. He missed the rest of the game with what the Avalanche said is a jaw injury.
- WASHINGTON: 3
COLORADO: 2
Final
Nov 20 11:26 PM - Colorado Goal - Tyson Barrie (2), from Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon at 6:44.
Capitals 2, Avalanche 2 3rd - 13:16Nov 20 10:59 PM - WASHINGTON: 2
COLORADO: 1
End of 2nd
Nov 20 10:33 PM - Washington Goal - Jason Chimera (2), from Jay Beagle at 12:10.
Capitals 2, Avalanche 1 2nd - 7:50Nov 20 10:20 PM - Washington Goal - Nicklas Backstrom (5), from Alex Ovechkin at 1:04.
Capitals 1, Avalanche 0 2nd - 18:56Nov 20 9:59 PM - WASHINGTON: 0
COLORADO: 0
End of 1st
Nov 20 9:39 PM - WASHINGTON: 0
COLORADO: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Nov 20 9:08 PM
Related News
- Avalanche Prospects Mailbag: Panning for Gold Dec 26
- Recap: Avalanche dominate in much-needed get-right game against Arizona Dec 23
- Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes (7:00 p.m.) Dec 23
- Preview: Avalanche square off against Coyotes Dec 23
- Weekly Grades: MacKinnon Nichushkin Domination Edition Dec 22
- Recap: Nathan MacKinnon career night strikes down Sens Dec 22
- Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Ottawa Senators (7 p.m.) Dec 21
- Preview: A fight through the darkness Dec 21
- Why Devon Toews’ comments will fuel the Avalanche Dec 20
- Recap: Avs get Mrazek’d in Chicago Dec 20
- Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks (6:30 p.m.) Dec 19
- Preview: Avalanche in the Windy City Dec 19