Image Source: Matthew Edwards
Key Takeaways:
- The Colorado Avalanche are looking to bounce back from their first regulation loss on home ice this season against the Washington Capitals.
- The Avalanche have accomplished several "firsts" this season, including being the first team to reach 70 points and win 30 regular season games.
- Nathan MacKinnon leads the League in goal scoring with 36 goals and is one point behind Connor McDavid for the overall points lead.
- The Capitals are struggling, having lost six of their previous nine games, and are currently in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.
- Tom Wilson leads the Capitals in goals and points, but has not played since January 3 due to injury.
Introduction to the Game
The Colorado Avalanche are set to take on the Washington Capitals today, looking to bounce back from their first regulation loss on home ice this season. As Head Coach Jared Bednar stated, "no positives" could be gained from their team’s effort against the Nashville Predators, and he "hated that game from start to finish." The Avalanche have accomplished several "firsts" this season, including being the first team to reach 70 points and win 30 regular season games. With a win against the Capitals, they will look to continue their dominance and maintain their position as the leader in the Central Division, Western Conference, and entire League standings.
The Avalanche’s Recent Performance
The Avalanche’s loss to the Nashville Predators was a tough one, with the team surrendering the first goal of the game just 30 seconds in. As the article states, "the Avalanche surrendered the first goal of the game right out of the gate with just thirty seconds played to O’Reilly, which was the beginning of a very long night for the returning Mackenzie Blackwood." Blackwood, who had missed the past six games due to injury, stopped 23 of 28 shots in his first action of 2026. Despite the loss, Brock Nelson was a bright spot for the Avalanche, matching Ryan O’Reilly goal for goal in the first period and giving his teammates opportunities to build on his efforts.
The Capitals’ Struggles
The Washington Capitals are struggling, having lost six of their previous nine games since the start of the calendar year. As the article notes, "Washington can also relate to the struggles of Dallas and Minnesota, having only three wins to their credit to begin the month of January." They are currently in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division and trail the Buffalo Sabres by three points for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Tom Wilson leads the Capitals in goals and points, but has not played since January 3 due to injury. Alex Ovechkin is second in goals and points for the team, while defenseman John Carlson is third in points and leads all Washington skaters in assists.
The Matchup
Today’s game against the Capitals will be the fifth game of the seven-game home stand for the Avalanche. The two teams have a history, with the Capitals skating away with a 5-2 victory over Colorado in their only visit to Ball Arena last season. The Avalanche will look to bounce back from their loss to the Predators and maintain their position as the leader in the League standings. As the article states, "Nathan MacKinnon remains the League leader in goal scoring (36), and will have a chance to reclaim the League lead in overall points from Edmonton’s Connor McDavid; MacKinnon is one point behind McDavid’s 83 points for the mark." The Capitals, on the other hand, will look to gain some ground in the wild card race and build some momentum before wrapping up their road swing in Detroit.
The Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to start in goal for the Avalanche, despite being idle since the team’s overtime loss against Toronto. As the article notes, "while it seems plausible for Bednar to turn to him after being idle since the Avs’ overtime loss against Toronto, he may start Blackwood to keep him working to return to form and save Wedgewood for Wednesday’s game against Anaheim." Logan Thompson is expected to start in goal for the Capitals, despite losing his last three starts. As the article states, "Thompson ranks sixth in goals against average among goaltenders (2.38), just behind Colorado’s Blackwood (2.26)." The matchup between the two goalies will be an interesting one, with both teams looking to come out on top.
Conclusion
The Colorado Avalanche are looking to bounce back from their first regulation loss on home ice this season against the Washington Capitals. With their dominant performance this season, they are expected to come out on top, but the Capitals are looking to gain some ground in the wild card race and build some momentum. As the article states, "today’s game against Washington will be the fifth game of the seven game home stand for the Avs." The matchup between the two teams will be an exciting one, with both teams looking to come out on top.
https://www.milehighhockey.com/colorado-avalanche-game-coverage/61081/preview-the-avs-eager-to-capitalize-against-a-struggling-washington-squad
