{"id":1315622,"date":"2019-10-14T23:08:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T05:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/kadri-rantanen-help-avs-stay-perfect-beat-capitals-6-3\/"},"modified":"2019-10-14T23:08:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T05:08:00","slug":"avalanche-stay-perfect-beat-capitals-6-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/avalanche-stay-perfect-beat-capitals-6-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Avalanche stay perfect, beat Capitals 6-3"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.9451807228916\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-989316-682\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) tries to get the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) tries to get the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) tries to get the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov, left, of Russia, celebrates his goal with right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"16\">\n<p><strong>Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov, left, of Russia, celebrates his goal with right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov, left, of Russia, celebrates his goal with right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, second from left, celebrates his goal with center Nazem Kadri (91), right wing Joonas Donskoi, left, and defenseman Ian Cole (28) and during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"4\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"19\">\n<p><strong>Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, second from left, celebrates his goal with center Nazem Kadri (91), right wing Joonas Donskoi, left, and defenseman Ian Cole (28) and during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-2.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, second from left, celebrates his goal with center Nazem Kadri (91), right wing Joonas Donskoi, left, and defenseman Ian Cole (28) and during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) skates off the ice as he is replaced by goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) skates off the ice as he is replaced by goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-3.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) skates off the ice as he is replaced by goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Colorado Avalanche left wing Andre Burakovsky (95) battles for the puck against Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, and defenseman Nick Jensen (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Colorado Avalanche left wing Andre Burakovsky (95) battles for the puck against Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, and defenseman Nick Jensen (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-4.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Colorado Avalanche left wing Andre Burakovsky (95) battles for the puck against Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, and defenseman Nick Jensen (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20), of Denmark, scores a goal against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20), of Denmark, scores a goal against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-5.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20), of Denmark, scores a goal against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), of Russia, awaits a face-off during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), of Russia, awaits a face-off during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-6.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), of Russia, awaits a face-off during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Colorado Avalanche right wing Joonas Donskoi (72), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Colorado Avalanche right wing Joonas Donskoi (72), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-7.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Colorado Avalanche right wing Joonas Donskoi (72), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, reaches for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, reaches for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-8.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, reaches for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, stops the puck in front of Washington Capitals left wing Carl Hagelin (62), of Sweden, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, stops the puck in front of Washington Capitals left wing Carl Hagelin (62), of Sweden, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-9.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, stops the puck in front of Washington Capitals left wing Carl Hagelin (62), of Sweden, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-10.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov (16), also of Russia, and right wing Joonas Donskoi (72), of Finland, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"4.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"20\">\n<p><strong>Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov (16), also of Russia, and right wing Joonas Donskoi (72), of Finland, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-10.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov (16), also of Russia, and right wing Joonas Donskoi (72), of Finland, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-11.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR67404 AP | Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov (16), of Russia, celebrates with goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov (16), of Russia, celebrates with goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR67404 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/Avalanche_Capitals_Hockey_74204-e98db-11.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov (16), of Russia, celebrates with goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31), of Germany, after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/kadri-rantanen-help-avs-stay-perfect-beat-capitals-6-3\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/kadri-rantanen-help-avs-stay-perfect-beat-capitals-6-3\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">WASHINGTON \u2014 Even after sweeping a four-game homestand to start the season, the Colorado Avalanche felt they could do a better job of starting games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They proved themselves right Monday night against the Washington Capitals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and two assists, and Colorado scored four first-period goals to beat Washington 6-3 and improve to 5-0-0.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Erik Johnson, Nikita Zadorov and Matt Nieto also scored for the Avalanche, who scored on their first three shots on goal and four of the first five. Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-net goal and had an assist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat was one of the weirdest starts, or the craziest ones that I\u2019ve seen in a long time,\u201d said Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer, who stopped 29 shots against his former team. \u201cBut obviously we talked about that. Because we didn\u2019t come out too hot in the last four games. So we wanted to make sure we come out really strong, especially on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Andre Burakovsky picked up an assist in his first return to Washington as a visiting player, as Colorado took a first period lead for just the third time in their five wins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Avalanche\u2019s season-opening win streak is tied for their second-longest since the team moved to Colorado, and matches their fourth-longest in franchise history.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve played our best yet,\u201d Grubauer said. \u201cI think we dodged a couple bullets a little bit early and got the win, but overall we got the two points. Nobody is asking at the end how.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Alex Ovechkin, Lars Eller and T.J. Oshie scored for Washington and Evgeny Kuznetsov had two assists. Braden Holtby gave up the three early goals on three shots and was pulled after Kadri\u2019s goal 7:54 into the game for the earliest removal of his career. Rookie Ilya Samsonov came on and finished with 19 saves on 21 shots.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s a team, and we\u2019re a team,\u201d Capitals coach Todd Reirden said of Holtby\u2019s performance. \u201cI\u2019m sure there are some things that he would have liked to have done different. But there\u2019s some things that a lot of us would have liked to have done different. We\u2019re in this together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Colorado got traffic in front of Holtby on its first two goals. Burakovsky jumped up off the ice to evade Johnson\u2019s opener, shot from just beyond the left face-off circle. On Zadorov\u2019s crafty spin and finish to make it 2-0, it was MacKinnon leaping across Holtby\u2019s field of vision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Kadri made it 3-0 when the Avalanche caught the Caps pressing into the attacking zone, taking Joonas Donskoi\u2019s feed and rifling a shot from the left that beat Holtby to his glove side and ended his evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Rantanen\u2019s fourth of the season made it 4-0 at 9:25 of the opening period on a power play. Kadri had his second assist of the game on the play.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat was our best period of the year,\u201d Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Capitals got no closer than two goals afterward. Late in the third, John Carlson appeared to have closed their deficit to 5-4, but his one-timer was disallowed for offside following Bednar\u2019s challenge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">NOTES: Washington has lost its first three home games for the first time since dropping their first three of the 1983-84 season. The first two losses were in overtime. \u2026 At the first media timeout of the first period, the Capitals played a video montage in tribute to Burakovsky, who spent his first five seasons in Washington and was part of its 2018 Stanley Cup triumph. From the bench, Burakovsky raised his arm in recognition of a sizable ovation from the crowd. \u2026 Washington C Nic Dowd played his 200th career game. \u2026 The Avalanche have scored at least three goals in each of their first five games, the first time they\u2019ve accomplished that feat since arriving in Colorado. \u2026 Avs D Ian Cole made his season debut after undergoing two offseason hip surgeries. \u2026 Holtby\u2019s previous shortest outing came when he was pulled with 9:07 played, having allowed three goals on five shots, during his rookie season, on Nov. 19, 2010.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">UP NEXT<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Avalanche: At Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Capitals: Host Toronto on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">More AP NHL: <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/NHL\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/apnews.com\/NHL<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/kadri-rantanen-help-avs-stay-perfect-beat-capitals-6-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) tries to get the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)AP | FR67404 AP Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov, left, of Russia, celebrates his goal with right wing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1315622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-06 18:47:27","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1315622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315622\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1315622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1315622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1315622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}