Strong win for the Avalanche against the Capitals

Takeaways

— Joel Kiviranta was noticeable on the ice tonight. He was strong in defending and taking away the puck when needed. Being noticeable is a good thing. He appeared to have stepped up his game. He has been a great addition to the team since being signed to a two- way contract.

— Samuel Girard and Josh Manson were strong in their defensive roles again tonight. If it wasn’t Manson taking the puck, it was Girard putting on speed to skate the puck down the ice. Manson played a physical game once again, attempting to keep Tom Wilson at bay.

— Despite a brief lapse, the Avalanche rallied in the second period. They continued with the mental attitude of teamwork for the rest of the game. It was what bought about the win. Playing to their strengths and not getting bogged down in trying too hard to score. The Avalanche kept the puck away from the Capitals to stop their opportunities.

Summary

This was a much needed win for the Avalanche. Scoring came from the top lines. The power play delivered. Even though there were some defensive breakdowns, players stepped up. And the face off wins were close to 50 percent. Overall, it was a team effort to gain two more points, keeping the Avalanche only two points behind the Dallas Stars in the Central Divion. Next game is Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Let’s see if tonight’s play continues then.