Colorado Avalanche Fail to Capitalize on Late Rush

The Colorado Avalanche faced the Washington Capitals for the second and last time, playing in the Verizon Center in Washington. The Avalanche had a three-game winning streak on the line, while the Caps are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now.

Unfortunately, the Avalanche were a little soft in the middle stanza. Varlamov kept them in the game — until his tantrum cost them a power play goal, but considering what they asked of him in the second… The Avs fell to the Caps 2-1.

Fancy Stick Work, No Avs Goals

Play started out slow, with both teams taking a defensive angle to the game. At times like the first period, it’s obvious the two teams aren’t used to playing against each other as they take a few minutes to get each other’s mettle.

That said, the Capitals drew first blood. At the 12:26 mark, Washington skater Jay Beagle scored on a rebound shot, putting the Caps up 1-0.

The Avalanche attempted to come back right away. Center Nathan MacKinnon skated into the offensive zone with speed and made a beautiful deke in front of Washington goalie Brent Holtby. Unfortunately, the goalie turned the shot aside.

Center Matt Duchene tried a similar move — speedy entrance, fancy stick work — but Hotlby made the save.

The Capitals got a power play opportunity when Washington defenseman Matt Greene sold a stick trip by Gabriel Landeskog, but goalie Semyon Varlamov made all the saves the Caps put up. That sequence did put Washington up on shots so that they finished the period leading in that category 12-7.

Penalty-Strewn Second Period

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Despite all the signs being there — thanks, Kevin — the Avalanche came out flat for some reason. They allowed Washington about four shots on net in the first 2 1/2 minutes. They also lost four out of the five faceoffs, all in their own zone — which helps explain the shot differential.

Well, when that happens Avalanche winger Cody McLeod shows why he’s the alternate captain despite being on the fourth line. He started getting physical with everyone around, soliciting first Tom Wilson and then Jay Beagle. The scrum continued over two faceoffs, and the officials finally called both for roughing.

The ensuing four-on-four was filled with skating. Play was wide open. Though the Avs looked energized, they were unable to capitalize.

A little later Avalanche defenseman Nate Guenin got called for tripping — those Caps have an award-winning swan dive. The Avalanche penalty kill was looking the equal of Washington’s League-fourth power play. However, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog drew a penalty when Joel Ward tripped him.

It looked like a wasted power play. However, winger Alex Tanguay, who suffered a broken face in the last game against the Capitals, was dissatisfied with that result. With just a few seconds left on Ward’s penalty, Tanguay received a pass from longtime linemate Jarome Iginla and wristed it past Holtby. The score was tied 1-1.

The shot differential started getting ridiculous, about 16 to five at one point. Varlamov seemed to have had enough, and he whacked Beagle on the nose. (No joke — on the nose.) He got called for roughing, and veteran forward Daniel Briere went into the penalty box to serve the minor.

Unfortunately, did the tantrum not only cost more shots, but an Alex Ovechkin shot finally got past Varlamov. The Caps were up 2-1 late in the second. Shots were a ridiculous 32-14 for the Caps.

Skating in the Third

The Colorado Avalanche came out with a lot more pep in their step for the third period. They got three quick shots on net, but Hotlby was the better of them.

The Avalanche finally got another power play opportunity when Eric Fehr held Tyson Barrie. The Avs put a lot of good pressure on Holtby, getting six shots on net. Unfortunately, no score.

Halfway through the third, the Avs had 12 shots to Washington’s two. They continued the pressure, limiting Washington to a total of six shots while they threw everything including the kitchen sink at Hotlby.

Head coach Patrick Roy pulled his patented move with almost two minutes remaining in the third. There were a couple empty net opportunities, but the Avs kept it out. They put serious pressure on the Capitals, but both Iginla and Tanguay missed open nets.

The Caps did manage to hit the empty Avs net, but, luckily, Joel Ward was still in the zone, and the goal was disallowed. No mind, Washington was able to hold off the Avalanche’s avalanche of shots — 20 in the third — to win the game 2-1.

The Colorado Avalanche can take a lot from that third period — and hopefully throw away that second. Everybody except Cody McLeod and Nate Guenin got shots on net — and that’s ok for them — and many players got multiple shots. Unfortunately, they don’t have much down time as they are playing the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night.

Or maybe that’s a plus if they take the fire from the third into the first in Carolina.