Opinion
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Capitals and Avalanche Clash in Capital One Showdown on Valentine's Day

As the Washington Capitals prepare to host the Colorado Avalanche at the Capital One Arena, fans are brimming with anticipation for what promises to be a riveting encounter on February 14th. The Capitals, coming off a mixed bag of results, have shown both resilience and areas needing improvement that could be pivotal in their upcoming game.


Jan 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) reaches for the puck in the first period against the Washington Capitals at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In their last home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 24th, WSH demonstrated a strong defensive effort with an impressive 100 percent penalty kill rate. Despite this, they struggled in faceoff circles, winning only 37 percent of draws. This aspect of play will need significant attention if they are to dominate possession against COL.


The offensive side showed promise as well; however, converting shots into goals was challenging for WSH as evidenced by their shooting percentage of just three percent. To come out on top against the Avalanche's formidable lineup, capitalizing on scoring opportunities will be crucial.


Jan 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) makes a save in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Looking at special teams' performance from recent games provides insights into potential game-changers. The powerplay unit had limited chances during their encounter with Tampa Bay but failed to convert. In contrast, during an earlier match-up with Columbus Blue Jackets on December 22nd where WSH emerged victorious with three points thanks to two powerplay goals from ten shots – showing what they're capable of when firing on all cylinders.


Goaltending remains a strength for WSH; both recent home games saw goalies saving every shot faced while shorthanded – an encouraging sign ahead of facing COL's attack.


Jan 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA;  Washington Capitals left wing Conor Sheary (73) shoots the puck in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche should not be underestimated though. They bring their own set of strengths that could challenge the Capitals' defense and goaltending prowess. With solid performances in past games including efficient shooting percentages and strong faceoff wins, COL is poised to put up a tough fight.


As fans gear up for this mid-February clash between these two competitive teams, it’s clear that Washington Capitals must sharpen their faceoff skills and capitalize more effectively on powerplay opportunities if they wish to secure victory over Colorado Avalanche.


The puck drops at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., USA at 7:00 PM local time (EST) this Valentine's Day evening. Fans can catch all the action live nationally via ESPN+ or tune into MNMT channel 642 for local coverage or ALT channel 681 if cheering from away territory.

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