Playing against an injury-riddled Capitals team, Philipp Grubauer and the Avalanche forced overtime late in the third period before falling 3-2 on Friday at the Pepsi Center.
Grubauer, who played for Washington for the first six years of his career, made 26 saves before Nicklas Backstrom scored a power-play goal on his former goaltender to end the game 22 seconds into overtime. Grubauer was acquired by Colorado (9-6-4) at the NHL draft last June and signed a three-year deal shortly thereafter.
“Warmups, looking down, it was a little weird,” Grubauer told reporters. “It felt like a scrimmage in the preseason a little bit, looking down and seeing some familiar faces.”
Grubauer started 79 games and appeared in 101 during his time in Washington. The fourth-round pick in 2010 posted a 43-31-11 record, a .923 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average with the Capitals. Late last season, Grubauer stole the starting crease from former Vezina Trophy winner Brayden Holtby, even starting the first two playoff games before being replaced by Holtby—who went on to win 16 playoff games for the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.
Seeking a starting role, Grubauer’s trade to Colorado offered him an opportunity to battle Semyon Varlamov for more starts. But that hasn’t been the case. Grubauer’s start against Washington was his first in 15 days.
“It was nice to get a game in two weeks, or whatever,” he told reporters. “It felt like it was the offseason. It was good, next game is coming soon.”
Grubauer’s last start was a 7-6 overtime loss in Vancouver. Avs coach Jared Bednar credited his goaltender for a strong performance and admits he needs to battle harder to get more playing time.
“He’s in a fight to get more time,” Bednar told reporters. “That depends on his play and on (Varlamov’s) play not just his play alone.”
The Capitals were without Grubauer’s former goaltending teammate as Holtby was ruled out with a lower-body injury. Star forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie also sat out with injuries.
Carl Soderberg got the scoring started for Colorado as his seventh goal of the season gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the first period. The Avalanche took the lead into the second before Washington scored on a tic-tac-toe play to tie the game. And before the second intermission, Washington’s captain, Alex Ovechkin, beat Grubauer to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead.
A late goal from Colorado’s Colin Wilson tied the game. But just over a minute before the end of regulation, Avs defenseman Ian Cole took a minor penalty to give Washington a power play that would stretch into overtime. Bednar was not a fan of the call.
“I didn’t love the call,” he told reporters. “I kind of felt like it was both guys doing the same thing but we are the defending team in that spot to get called.”
Colorado was able to kill the first 69 seconds of the holding penalty before Washington ended it in the extra frame. The Avs walked away with one point.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog credited the Avalanche with a strong start and finish to regulation. But was frustrated with a missed opportunity to win the game.
“I think the first ten and the last ten minutes of the game were the only positives out of this one,” Landeskog told reporters. “We were working and trying to fight and claw our way back into the game but we were just too sloppy. Nonetheless a big point, but we need more.”
Colorado heads back on the road for a three-game road trip that starts Sunday in Anaheim. While Grubauer was strong in goal against the Capitals, Bednar admits he still hasn’t made a decision on who will start against the Ducks.
“We’ll re-evaluate going on this road trip,” Bednar told reporters. “I haven’t made any decisions going into next game but I really like his game tonight that’s for sure.”
NOTES: Patrik Nemeth was reinserted into the lineup in place of Nikita Zadorov, who was a healthy scratch for the first time this season … Nemeth played 18:08 and finished with one shot, one hit and one blocked shot … Colorado was outshot 29-26, but held a 8-1 advantage in the third period before Cole’s penalty … Ovechkin’s goal was his 13th of the season, putting him ahead of Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon who both have 12 … opposite Grubauer, the Capitals started Pheonix Copley. Playing in his ninth career game and fifth of the season, Copley made 25 saves, including a breakaway on MacKinnon in the first period to secure his fourth win of the season.
feature photo credit: Colorado Avalanche
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