It did not matter that the Colorado Avalanche were missing two star players or had just played a game last night in Detroit.
The Capitals have had their own problems this season. Sympathy was the last thing they needed to dole out at the start of a critical five-game homestand.
It took almost 43 minutes and a ton of patience against the deliberate Avalanche. But a Donald Brashear goal at the 2 minute, 51 second mark of the third period got the Caps started and forward David Steckel delivered the game-winner with 4:01 left in a 2-1 victory at Verizon Center on Wednesday.
“If we want to be a consistent, winning hockey team we can’t depend on our best players to score every night,” said forward Brooks Laich, who drew the primary assist on the Caps’ first goal when his shot deflected off Brashear’s leg. “We have to have other lines produce.”
The Caps (18-20-5, 41 points) jumped to 13th place in the Eastern Conference and closed to within four points of the eighth-place New York Islanders for the final playoff spot.
Goalie Olaf Kolzig didn’t see much action through the first two periods as Colorado managed just nine shots. But he had to be sharp late with two key saves down the stretch, including a toe stop on a bid in front of the net by Tyler Arnason. Kolzig stopped 19 Avalanche shots total.
“We’ve been playing better here the last few weeks and are starting to put together a respectable home record,” Kolzig said. “We have a great opportunity now in the next two weeks to gain more ground.”
Steckel’s goal appeared to seal the win. But just 38 seconds later forward Marek Svatos ended Kolzig’s shutout bid after finishing a pass from teammate Wojtek Wolski. Kolzig had to stop Arnason twice with the Colorado goalie pulled in the final minute, including a glove save with 13 seconds left.
Home sweet home
» The Caps still have four games left on their longest homestand of the season, including one Sunday afternoon against Philadelphia.
» The first goal was originally credited to forward Brooks Laich. But it was ruled after the game that Laich’s shot deflected off the leg of forward Donald Brashear.
» Colorado forwards Joe Sakic (hernia) and Ryan Smith (broken ankle) were both out of the lineup. The pair has combined for 18 goals this season.
