MacKinnon Hits 700 Career Points; Coach Sets Record

The Colorado Avalanche and the Washington Capitals met for the second and final time last night.

Lately, the Avs have been playing with a lot of confidence. They are passing better, they are shooting better and therefore scoring more goals. Despite the fact that Cale Makar has now missed four games in a row, Colorado keeps winning. It did not take long for Nathan MacKinnon to help out as he set broke a career milestone of his own as well.

Colorado played a desperate Washington team that has been having a similar issue as the Avalanche. Injuries. Nicklas Backstrom has played just seven games after recovering from double hip surgery. T.J. Oshie has been out with multiple issues, missing tonight to help with the birth of his fourth child. The Capitals are in the second wild-card spot and need the points just as badly as the Avalanche do. 

First Period 

Colorado came on strong to start but was outshot during the period 13-9 by the Capitals. The highlight of the period was Nathan MacKinnon as he got his 700th career point with an assist on an Artturi Lehkonen goal. The puck was thrown around the boards and bounced out to Devon Toews who sent it over to MacKinnon. He ran through the neutral zone and was met coming into the zone by Dmitry Orlov as he laid a hit right into the gut of MacKinnon. He managed to get the puck off of his stick in time and slide it up to Lehkonen, who pushed it through the legs of former teammate Darcy Kuemper for the goal. 

Second Period 

In the second period, Colorado struggled to maintain possession of the puck. They made use of their time by outsourcing and outshooting their opponents in the period. For three minutes, it was all Colorado. This included a goal from Andrew Cogliano, and then the tides turned when Conor Sheary scored for the Capitals. The Avalanche were struggling to get the puck out of the zone as Washington was laying down hit after hit. Alex Newhook scored on a set play on a faceoff win with the help of Logan O’Connor and Samuel Girard. In what seemed like an odd period, Colorado came out on top with two goals and some momentum into the third. 

Around Full Press Hockey

NHL: Paul Maurice: “It’s A Special Place And You Could Feel It”

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche

NHL: NHL Power Rankings: Devils Holding Onto The Top Spot

NFL: Remembering John Hadl: “A Great Player, A Great Athlete

Full Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 38: NHL Season Preview: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Johnny Gaudreau

Third Period

Washington completely dominated the period and would not let the Avalanche get out of their own zone at all. In fact, Colorado managed only three shots in the period to the Capitals’ fifteen. One of those fifteen shots was an absolute rocket by Alex Ovechkin from his office to get his 31st of the year. 

Conclusion 

The Avalanche have now won six in a row and are in third place in the Central Division. Alexandar Georgiev held the team in the game with his .949 save percentage. They are playing simple hockey and it is working for them. Coach Jared Bednar took the helm for his 500th game last night and got his 266th win to become the franchise leader in wins. Something is different with the team lately, they are relaxed.

Watch out everyone, the Avalanche are coming down the mountain.

Postgame Quotes

Alex Newhook on his goal: “Great play by our D-men to get it out. Set play for us to get it out of the zone so our wingers pull out. Great touch back to me and thought I had a step on the D-man there. [I] tried to just take it to the net and put it on Kuemps (Washington G Darcy Kuemper).” 

Andrew Cogliano on the third period: “I thought we were kind of vacating the middle of the ice a little bit. They were getting opportunities through the middle. They are a good team, they are desperate, they are looking to tie the game. I don’t think it was our best game overall tonight, to be honest, but we won. We got two points and that’s all that matters. So, hopefully, we get some more guys back as we go here and continue to build on what we’re doing.”

Quotes provided by Avalanche PR