The Capitals faced a familiar goalie in net tonight in Philipp Grubauer, the teams’ backup goalie for the past three seasons. The skaters’ knowledge of their fellow Stanley Cup Champion’s goalkeeping strengths and weaknesses proved to have the edge, giving the Capitals an important win on the road.
Here’s Friday night’s Plus/Minus:
Plus: Washington, with a lean lineup, entered this game with the league’s fourth-worst penalty kill, and Colorado boasted the league’s third-best power play. This could have been a recipe for disaster, but the Capitals managed to hold off the Avalanche and went 2/2 on the PK.