DENVER (AFP) – Arturi Likonen, Andrew Cogliano and Alex Newhawk scored towards former teammate Darcy Kuemper and stopped a rookie Colorado Avalanche over the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Tuesday evening to present coach Jared Bednar his 266th victory.
Logan O’Connor added two assists, Nathan McKinnon an help for his 700th level, and Alexander Georgiev added 37 tackles for the Avs’ season-best sixth straight victory. They moved into third place within the Central Division, one level forward of Minnesota.
Bednar, who coached his five hundredth recreation with Colorado, improved to 266-185-49 and handed former Quebec Nordiques coach Michel Bergeron for probably the most teaching wins in franchise historical past.
“I am glad I am right here and gone so we are able to cease speaking about it,” Bednar mentioned. “We did not play our greatest recreation tonight, so I am joyful we managed to get the 2 factors.”
Alex Ovechkin returned from harm to attain his thirty first aim for Washington. Connor Cherry additionally scored and Comber stopped 23 pictures in his first recreation in Denver since serving to the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in June.
The group stood and applauded her after a halftime video of Quimper, who has received 37 common season video games and 10 extra within the playoffs.
Avs selected to not re-sign Kuemper, who then signed a five-year take care of The Capitals in July.
“It was very tough,” a choked Comber mentioned of the tribute. “There have been numerous blended emotions. It was very particular to be again.”
He had his moments towards his former group, together with a neat glove save towards Jacob McDonald and Lekkonen within the second interval to carry one aim down. However a Newhawk aim with 4:21 left within the second made it 3-1.
The looted Capitals dominated the third interval however misplaced for the fifth time in seven video games as Georgiev made a number of saves.
“It was a extremely good stretch of protection for us,” mentioned Georgiev.
Ovechkin’s one-time rating at 9:44 of the third was his 811th aim after lacking his first recreation of the season Saturday as a consequence of a lower-body harm.
“I do not wish to say I used to be 100%, however I used to be in a position to play,” mentioned Ovechkin.
Washington was with out TJ Oshie, who left to be along with his spouse for the start of their fourth youngster. And Niklas Backström was a late scratcher with a non-COVID sickness.
Then Tom Wilson got here out within the second interval after blocking a shot and was x-rayed between durations.
“In the mean time, he has an harm in his decrease physique,” mentioned coach Peter Laviolette.
The Avalanche, by no means trailing throughout their successful streak, completed Kuemper at 8:57 of the primary when McKinnon absorbed Dmitri Orlov’s massive hit and edged Lykonen to attain his fifteenth aim and sixth in six video games.
Cogliano redirected a Curtis McDiarmid shot 2:04 into the second to make it 2-0. Cherry minimize the deficit in half when he headed in Martin Fairfare’s shot for his twelfth aim simply over two minutes later.
He broke the cup
It additionally noticed working again Washington’s Nicholas Opp-Coppel, who had 22 factors in 67 video games for the Avs in 2021-22, recall him for dropping and threatening the trophy throughout an on-ice celebration.
“It is a part of my journey right here,” Aube-Kubel mentioned with a smile of emotion, including that the season was “the very best time of my life.”
Notes: Avs D Cale Makar (higher physique) skilled on Monday and took part within the morning ski, however missed his fourth consecutive recreation. … Ephesus W Anton Blidh concessions and skated to the fourth line. … Aliaksei Protas centered on Washington’s third line in his first NHL motion since January 5 and Georgiev stole it within the first interval. … The Capitals have solely 4 video games left outdoors the Jap Time Zone.
subsequent one
Capitals: Host Pittsburgh Thursday evening.
Avalanche: Host Anaheim Thursday evening.
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