Eurolanche

Avs beat the Caps now 14-2

The Colorado Avalanche faceoff for the second time this season with the Washington Capitals. The Avs won the first game 5-1 and look to repeat. Varly gets the start again looking to foil his former club.  Alex Tanguay is still out with injury. Joining him is the often injured Ryan Wilson and the always scratched Matt Hunwick.

The Avs get on the board early with a redirect goal by Patrick Bordeleau. Cody McLeod and Marc-Andre Cliché with the assists. The goal was reviewed for possible high stick but the call stood. Not long after Matt Duchene is hooked on a breakaway drawing a PP for the Avs. The Avs get some good chances on the PP but cannot convert. The first period ends with the Avs up 1-0. The Avs played good defense in the first limit the Caps to only 4 shots.

The Avs and Caps trade PP in early in the second with no goals.  Late in the second the Caps tie the game up 1-1. But less than a minute later Nick Holden gets his first NHL goal to put the Avs back up 2-1. Near the end of the second Jan Hejda lays a big hit on Ovie. He stays down for a bit and is helped off the ice. He comes back before the end of the game and seems fine.

The third starts with chances traded. The Avs get called on a penalty on Sarich and then get called with too many men on the ice to go on a 5-3 PK. The Avs kill both off and continue to stay hot on the PK this season. Shortly after the Avs go up 3-1 with a goal from P.A. Parenteau. Duchene and Erik Johnson get the assists on the goal. The Duchene line was coming hard all night and finally gets on the board. Later the Caps got back on the PP and then things get chippy. Ovie tries to start with McLeod and end up in the box to give the Avs a slightly shorten PP. The Avs do not score once again. The Avs PP hasn’t looked great since the first one. But the PK is staying strong. The Caps think they get one on the board but it is called off. Landskog makes the score 4-1 with a beauty of a play blowing by Ovie and scoring. The Avs win the game 4-1.

Some takeaways for me. Hejda is a beast this season playing hard every game. His play is helping bring Johnsons play back up. The PK is solid the addition of Max Talbot is definably helping with that. PAP and Duchene just love being back together right now. Varly gets to beat his former team again must feel good. On to the next one Go Avs go!