DENVER (AFP) – Arturi Likonen, Andrew Cogliano and Alex Newhawk scored in opposition to former teammate Darcy Kuemper and stopped a rookie Colorado Avalanche over the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Tuesday night time to offer trainer Jared Bednar his 266th victory.
Logan O’Connor added two assists, Nathan McKinnon an lend a hand for his 700th level, and Alexander Georgiev added 37 tackles for the Avs’ season-best 6th instantly victory. They moved into 3rd position within the Central Department, one level forward of Minnesota.
Bednar, who coached his five hundredth sport with Colorado, stepped forward to 266-185-49 and handed former Quebec Nordiques trainer Michel Bergeron for probably the most training wins in franchise historical past.
“I am satisfied I am right here and long gone so we will be able to prevent speaking about it,” Bednar stated. “We did not play our very best sport this night, so I am glad we controlled to get the 2 issues.”
Alex Ovechkin returned from damage to attain his thirty first function for Washington. Connor Cherry additionally scored and Comber stopped 23 photographs in his first sport 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 gained 37 common season video games and 10 extra within the playoffs.
Avs selected to not re-sign Kuemper, who then signed a five-year care for The Capitals in July.
“It was once very tricky,” a choked Comber stated of the tribute. “There have been a large number of combined emotions. It was once very particular to be again.”
He had his moments in opposition to his former crew, together with a neat glove save in opposition to Jacob McDonald and Lekkonen in the second one length to carry one function down. However a Newhawk function with 4:21 left in the second one made it 3-1.
The looted Capitals ruled the 3rd length however misplaced for the 5th time in seven video games as Georgiev made a number of saves.
“It was once a actually just right stretch of protection for us,” stated Georgiev.
Ovechkin’s one-time rating at 9:44 of the 3rd was once his 811th function after lacking his first sport of the season Saturday because of a lower-body damage.
“I do not wish to say I used to be 100%, however I used to be in a position to play,” stated Ovechkin.
Washington was once with out TJ Oshie, who left to be together with his spouse for the delivery in their fourth kid. And Niklas Backström was once a overdue scratcher with a non-COVID sickness.
Then Tom Wilson got here out in the second one length after blocking off a shot and was once x-rayed between classes.
“Nowadays, he has an damage in his decrease physique,” stated trainer Peter Laviolette.
The Avalanche, by no means trailing all through their successful streak, completed Kuemper at 8:57 of the primary when McKinnon absorbed Dmitri Orlov’s large hit and edged Lykonen to attain his fifteenth function and 6th in six video games.
Cogliano redirected a Curtis McDiarmid shot 2:04 into the second one to make it 2-0. Cherry lower the deficit in part when he headed in Martin Fairfare’s shot for his twelfth function simply over two mins later.
He broke the cup
It additionally noticed operating again Washington’s Nicholas Opp-Coppel, who had 22 issues in 67 video games for the Avs in 2021-22, recall him for shedding and perilous the trophy all through an on-ice birthday party.
“It is a part of my adventure right here,” Aube-Kubel stated with a grin of emotion, including that the season was once “the most efficient time of my lifestyles.”
Notes: Avs D Cale Makar (higher physique) educated on Monday and took part within the morning ski, however ignored his fourth consecutive sport. … Ephesus W Anton Blidh concessions and skated to the fourth line. … Aliaksei Protas focused on Washington’s 3rd line in his first NHL motion since January 5 and Georgiev stole it within the first length. … The Capitals have most effective 4 video games left out of doors the Japanese Time Zone.
subsequent one
Capitals: Host Pittsburgh Thursday night time.
Avalanche: Host Anaheim Thursday night time.
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