Rapid Recap: Capitals 6, Avalanche 3

The Colorado Avalanche dropped its first contest of a three-game road trip with a 6-3 loss against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored twice for the Caps while Nick Jensen, Anthony Mantha and Nic Dowd also found the back of the net. Alexander Ovechkin, who was skating in his 1,200th NHL game sealed the win with an empty-net tally.
J.T. Compher scored a shorthanded goal for Colorado and Darren Helm netted his first with the club. Mikko Rantanen also found the scoresheet when he finished a pass from Nathan MacKinnon in the final minutes of regulation. MacKinnon was playing in his first game of the year.

Colorado continues its road trip on Thursday at the Florida Panthers.
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Highlights

THE GOALS

1st Period
6:15 WSH (0-1) - John Carlsson passed the puck through the neutral zone to Evgeny Kuznetsov and he skated through the Colorado defense and scored five hole.
13:46 COL (1-1) - SHG, J.T. Compher intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and skated into the offensive zone and scored shorthanded.
16:53 WSH (1-2) - Nick Jensen regained the lead for the Capitals on an odd-man rush up the ice.
2nd Period
3:12 COL (2-2) - Logan O'Connor skated from behind the goal around the right circle and found Darren Helm open in the slot and he scored his first with the Avalanche.
14:47 WSH (2-3) Lars Eller shot into Anthony Mantha's feet at the top of the paint before Mantha scored.
16:41 WSH (2-4) - After some time in the offensive zone, Washington doubled its lead when Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his second of the night far side.
3rd Period
0:39 WSH (2-5) - Nic Dowd collected a rebound at the goal line below the left circle and scored.
16:54 COL (3-5) - PPG, Mikko Rantanen one-timed the puck into the net after a cross-ice pass from Nathan MacKinnon to finish a six-on-four situation.
17:39 WSH (3-6) - Alexander Ovechkin scored into an empty net in his 1,200th NHL game.
Final:Capitals - 6 | Avalanche - 3

POWER PLAYS

Colorado:1 for 4
Washington:0 for 3

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Colorado: Darcy Kuemper made 33 saves, including 17 in the first period.
Washington: Ilya Samsonov stopped 24-of-27 shots.

STAT OF THE NIGHT

J.T. Compher scored his first short-handed goal of the year and sixth of his career. He is tied with Milan Hejduk and Blake Comeau for the fourth most in Avalanche history (since 1995-96). Only Joe Sakic (20), Peter Forsberg (15) and Stephane Yelle (seven) have more.

NOTEBOOK

Darren Helm scored his first goal as a member of the Avalanche… Nathan MacKinnon skated in his first game of the year… He had an assist and now has 10 points in his last nine previous season debuts (two goals, eight assists)... Mikko Rantanen tallied his first of the year and is on a three-game point streak... Alexander Ovechkin skated in his 1200th NHL game... The Avalanche visited the nation's capital for the first time in two years (Oct. 14, 2019). It was the first time Colorado has faced an Eastern Conference opponent since March 2020.

BIG HIGHLIGHT

ROSTER REPORT

Colorado dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the contest. Nathan MacKinnon played in his first game of the season, centering Andre Burakovsky and Mikko Rantanen on the top line. Jack Johnson also returned to the lineup after not being available for Saturday's game in COVID protocol. Johnson was on a pairing with Ryan Murray while Kurtis MacDermid was the seventh defenseman though he also played on Colorado's fourth line. Martin Kaut and Mikhail Maltsev were recalled from the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles on Monday and skated on the Avalanche's fourth line. Darcy Kuemper was in net for the third time this year. Jayson Megna was Colorado's scratch.

INJURY UPDATE

Devon Toews (upper body) is still a non-contact participant in practices but is with the team on the trip… Valeri Nichushkin is week-to-week with an upper-body injury he sustained on opening night… Stefan Matteau will be out "weeks" with a lower-body injury… Pavel Francouz has not yet skated as he is out three-to-four weeks with a lower-body injury he sustained on Oct. 5.

UP NEXT

Colorado continues its road trip on Thursday at the Florida Panthers before concluding the journey at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

LINE COMBINATIONS

Based on the start of the game
Forwards
95 Andre Burakovsky - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
37 J.T. Compher - 91 Nazem Kadri - 75 Sampo Ranta
43 Darren Helm - 17 Tyson Jost - 25 Logan O'Connor
11 Mikhail Maltsev - 61 Martin Kaut
Defensemen
49 Samuel Girard - 8 Cale Makar
4 Bowen Byram - 6 Erik Johnson
3 Jack Johnson - 28 Ryan Murray
56 Kurtis MacDermid
Goaltenders
35 Darcy Kuemper
31 Jonas Johansson