McMichael scores twice, Capitals end Avalanche's 3-game winning streak

DENVER -- Connor McMichael scored twice for the Washington Capitals in a 5-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Friday.

Jakub Vrana and Jakob Chychrun scored, and Pierre-Luc Dubois had two assists for the Capitals (11-4-1), who have alternated wins and losses in their past seven games. Charlie Lindgren made 17 saves.

“I thought we did a phenomenal job against their top players,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “It wasn't just one line. It was our entire lineup had to play against those guys and did a phenomenal job.

“I thought Dubois was one of our best players tonight, and they had the majority of the matchup against [Nathan] MacKinnon. And he was phenomenal, both sides of the puck.”

Parker Kelly had a goal and an assist, and Nikolai Kovalenko scored for the Avalanche (9-9-0), who had won three straight. Justus Annunen allowed three goals on six shots before being replaced at 1:53 of the second period by Trent Miner, who made 12 saves in his NHL debut.

“I didn't like our game really at all,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “In its simplest form, it looked like we were second to the puck all night, and our execution was not good. We had a tough time stringing together two passes.

“When your fourth line gets you two goals, [with] limited ice time, should be a good sign, but the bulk of the rest of our team struggled.”

MacKinnon’s season-opening home point streak ended at 11 games (five goals, 20 assists). He was also held without a shot on goal.

“They blocked shots and stuff,” Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said. “I just didn't think we generated, got enough to the net, whether it was us shooting from the point or going to the net off rushes of putting it there, and that resulted in -- I don't know how many shots we ended up with -- under 20.”

Kelly gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 2:00 of the first period when he curled around the outside of the right circle and scored on a snap shot top shelf. It was his first goal of the season.

“We need depth scoring, and I was kind of putting pressure on myself because I hadn't given that to the team yet,” Kelly said. “It was nice to get the first one, but more importantly, we need to get that win.”

Vrana tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal at 4:25, scoring on a slap shot from the blue line that went under the glove of Annunen.

McMichael cut it to 2-1 at 7:48 with a one-timer from the high slot.

McMichael then extended it to 3-1 at 1:53 of the second period. He intercepted Samuel Girard’s pass at the Avalanche's blue line, skated wide around Josh Manson in front, and scored blocker side with his backhand.

“I saw [Manson] was kind of trying to gap up flat-footed, trying to get in the shot lane,” McMichael said. “So, I just faked the shot and pulled it to my backhand and found a hole.”

Kovalenko cut it to 3-2 at 4:03 when he located the rebound of Kelly’s shot from the blue line and backhanded it over the leg of Lindgren.

Chychrun made it 4-2 at 9:21 with a wrist shot between the circles that went top shelf past the glove of Miner.

“It was a great pass. 'Doobie's' been making nice passes like that most of this year, and it's nice to capitalize on it for him,” Chychrun said. “Boys were working for one another, supporting each other all around the ice. If we needed to make a play, we made a play. If we needed to chip it out to fight for another day, then we did. We just made the right play when the time was needed.”

Rasmus Sandin scored into an empty net at 19:57 for the 5-2 final.

Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin made his season debut. The 29-year-old had been in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program since May 13, which included being suspended without pay for a minimum of six months.

He finished minus-3 with one shot on goal in 19:27 of ice time.

“Six months, I work pretty much every day,” Nichushkin said. “I feel amazing. I feel strong. I think my mind's in the right spot right now.

“I live right now by one day, you know. Like just working, stay focused on my problems, and hopefully it's going to work.”

NOTES: Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (10 goals, 10 assists in 16 games) had an assist to join Gordie Howe (six goals, 18 assists in 1968-69) as the second player 39 or older to record 20 points through the first 16 games of a season. … McMichael extended his point streak to five games (five goals, two assists). … Lars Eller made his Capitals debut after being acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. … Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin returned after missing 16 games with an upper-body injury. He finished minus-2 in 19:49 of ice time. … Miles Wood returned to the lineup after missing the past seven games with an upper-body injury. He had one assist and was plus-2 with one shot on goal in 7:53 of ice time.