“We didn’t do anything for them to take a penalty,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau lamented. “We got two half penalties. It seems like a trend lately. But you’ve got to work hard, go to the net and make them pull you down if you want penalties.” » Colorado coach Tony Granato recorded his 100th career win in 192 games. He is the 10th American-born coach to accomplish that feat.» The Avalanche last won at Verizon Center on Oct. 17, 2000. They are now 18-0-0 when leading after two periods. Thanks to an extremely rare goal by Adam Foote – his first in 106 games – the Avalanche led 2-1 after the second. » The Caps were held under 30 shots for the first time since a Feb. 3 win at New Jersey. They finished with 29.» Washington will be happy to learn it has just one game left against a Western Conference team — March 10 at Nashville, whom they beat 4-3 in a shootout at Verizon Center way back on Oct. 28.
Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom is a cool customer almost always in control of his emotions on the ice. It takes a lot for the 21-year-old Swede to start mixing it up.
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But in the final minute of his team’s ugly performance against Colorado on Friday night, Backstrom and Avalanche forward Wojtek Wolski both left the ice for good after earning interference and roughing penalties respectively. His teammates understood Backstrom’s frustration. They felt the exact same way.
The time and space the Caps usually find when playing at home was nowhere to be found. Instead, Colorado’s disciplined, defensive style carried the day in a 4-1 victory.
“I don’t know what happened. I think this was our worst game of the year,” said Backstrom, whose goal with 15 seconds left in the first period was the Caps’ lone tally of the night. “And that’s not good. We’re playing at home for full, crowded arena. We have to be better.”
In the second period, Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote scored his first goal since Oct. 6, 2007. Tyler Arnason and Wolski each added an insurance score in the third period as Colorado controlled play throughout.
The Caps (37-17-5, 79 points) have struggled against Western Conference teams this season. Ten of their 17 regulation losses have come against teams from the West and now four of their five home losses, too. With games upcoming against Eastern Conference rivals Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, maybe a letdown was the natural reaction. Colorado (28-30-1, 57 points) entered the night in last place in the Western Conference – although the Avalanche are now just five points out of a playoff spot after the win.
“I would like to think not because you have to get ready for every team,” said Caps goalie Jose Theodore, who finished with 21 saves. “But we’ve lost some games to teams that are behind us in the standings. I think when you lose a game playing the way you normally do it’s a different story. But a game like tonight – I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance to win.”
Ryan Smyth opened the scoring for Colorado at 10 minutes, 27 seconds of the first period when he was allowed four separate stuff attempts as Theodore tried in vain to hold his left post. Theodore said afterwards he wanted a whistle after the first two. But none came from the referee and the puck finally slid through on the fourth whack.
With just 15 seconds left in the period, Backstrom converted a sweet pass from teammate Tomas Fleischmann, who hit him in the slot from the right wing. The shot ripped past Colorado goalie Andrew Raycroft (28 saves) to tie the game.
It was Backstrom’s 15th goal of the year, surpassing his total from last season. It was also his second tally in as many games. But that was little consolation given Washington’s struggles the rest of the night.
“We couldn’t get pucks deep,” said Caps forward Eric Fehr, who now has 10 points in his last 10 games. “I don’t really see it as us playing down to their level. They are a quick team and they took advantage of that.”
