Caps Get Out of Denver With 3-2 OT Win

Every win in the National Hockey League is worth two points, no more and no less. But Washington's 3-2 overtime triumph over the Avalanche in Denver on Friday night contains some elements of hidden value.

Nicklas Backstrom scored the game-winning goal on a four-on-three power play just 22 seconds into overtime, ensuring the Caps of no worse than a break even road trip. Backstrom went top shelf from the slot, beating ex-teammate Philipp Grubauer to give the Caps the win.
"I used to struggle scoring on Grubi in practice," says Backstrom. "He was probably used to me passing, too."

Playing without number one netminder Braden Holtby and top six forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie, the short-staffed Caps went with Pheonix Copley in goal for the third time in four nights. At this time last month, Copley had played in three NHL games and had yet to earn his first win. Copley's backup for the night was rookie Ilya Samsonov, recalled from AHL Hershey earlier in the day. Samsonov arrived in Denver after the Caps' Friday morning skate got underway.
The Caps fell down early, as Colorado took a 1-0 lead on Carl Soderberg's goal at 1:08 of the first, scoring on the Avalanche's first shot on goal of the game. The Caps needed goalie Pheonix Copley to make big stops on Gabriel Landeskog from the slot and Nathan MacKinnon on a breakaway in the first half of the first, but they settled in nicely afterwards and got to the intermission down by a single goal.
"We got off to a slow start," says Caps coach Todd Reirden, "and I liked the fact that we didn't cave in at that point; we responded and I thought we put together a decent rest of the first period. They're a dangerous team especially here at home."

Just ahead of the midpoint of the second, the Caps tied the game on a forechecking goal.
Travis Boyd went into the left wing corner and took possession of the puck, quickly throwing it to Chandler Stephenson on the weak side. Stephenson went right back to the left side with it, and faster than ex-Caps goalie Philipp Grubauer could react, Washington winger Devante Smith-Pelly buried it, finishing off the tic-tac-toe sequence. Smith-Pelly's third goal of the season made it a 1-1 game at 8:55 of the middle frame.
Tom Wilson made a strong play at the Washington line, simultaneously dropping an Avs defender to the ice, gaining a zone exit for the Caps, and springing Backstrom into neutral ice with a nifty backhand feed. Backstrom gained Colorado ice before dishing off to Alex Ovechkin, and the Caps' captain patiently carved his way to an optimal shooting location before unleashing a wrist shot that beat Grubauer, putting the Caps on top 2-1 with 1:31 left in the second period.

The Caps played some good road hockey in the third, getting pucks deep while still creating the occasional scoring chance for themselves. Their much-maligned penalty killing outfit executed a key kill in the middle of the third period, and Copley preserved the advantage with a big save on Matt Calvert shortly after the kill.
Washington and Colorado combined to play nearly four minutes without a whistle in the latter half of the third, a stretch that ended with the Avalanche scoring the tying goal at 17:16 when Colin Wilson put back the rebound of a Calvert shot to tie the game at 2-2.
Reirden issued a coach's challenge for goaltender interference, a longshot of a challenge to be sure, but he had ulterior motives. Less than three weeks removed from squandering a late lead and getting no points in a game in Montreal, Reirden wanted to remind his troops to keep an even keel and at least get out of town with a point.
With 1:09 left, Smith-Pelly made a strong play along the wall in Colorado ice, battling through his check and ultimately drawing a holding call on Avs defender Ian Cole.

"I was on the ice for their tying goal," says Smith-Pelly, "so I kind of wanted to make up for it. I was happy that I was able to draw one, and even more happy that we were able to score."
Washington was unable to win it in regulation, but Backstrom took care of business in overtime, needing less than half of the 51 seconds of power play time the Caps had with which to work at the outset of the extra session.
Wilson muscled the puck into Colorado ice at the start of overtime, nudging the puck to Backstrom. In the process, Wilson got into a tangle with his check, creating space for Backstrom and effectively giving the Caps a three-on-two power play. Backstrom made an exchange with John Carlson before rifling his shot past Grubauer, high on the blocker side.
Washington started the night with exactly 20 healthy bodies, and all of them were dressed and in the lineup. Playing its third game in four nights, and playing at altitude against the top scoring team in the league, the Caps found a way to get it done.
"I really liked our leaders," says Reirden. "Between the goals that Ovechkin and Backstrom score, and Carlson setting up the [game-winning] goal, they did a real strong job in the room - Tom Wilson as well - missing some key leaders and key guys in our room. That was a very important win for our team."
"It's going to give us a little confidence," says Backstrom of the win. "When you have a lot of guys hurt, it was nice to see that we really go together and played a good defensive game. Everyone was on the same page and blocking shots and doing all the little things right. Two points is always two points."
True enough. But these two points carry some hidden value, given the adversity and the circumstances the Caps navigated to get them.