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Capitals: Top 3 heroes against Avalanche

By Michael Marzzacco

DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 13: Lars Eller #20, Nick Jensen #3, Alex Ovechkin #8 and Jakub Vrana #13 of the Washington Capitals celebrate the go ahead goal by T.J. Oshie #77 against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Pepsi Center on February 13, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 13: Lars Eller #20, Nick Jensen #3, Alex Ovechkin #8 and Jakub Vrana #13 of the Washington Capitals celebrate the go ahead goal by T.J. Oshie #77 against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Pepsi Center on February 13, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 13: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals brings the puck off the boards against Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche in the second period at the Pepsi Center on February 13, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 13: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals brings the puck off the boards against Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche in the second period at the Pepsi Center on February 13, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Nicklas Backstrom

Nicklas Backstrom started the comeback in the second period. He noted to Rick Sadowski of NHL.com on the first period woes:

"“I think it was not acceptable. The way we’ve been playing lately too, it’s not acceptable. We’ve been talking about details and stuff like that, and we’re going out in the first period and we’re not even there, and I think in this League you have to be aware of what you’re doing out there at all times. I think we bounced back pretty good after that and worked ourselves into the game.”"

At 10:32 in the second period the Caps got a power play opportunity when Tyson Jost was called for high sticking Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom made them pay with a good drive to the net. Jakub Vrana threaded the perfect pass from the other side of the boards to Backstrom before he banged it in at 11:37 for his 11th of the season.

That power play goal would be the first of two they would convert on five tries. Again, they must’ve saw the story and thought “oh no we’re a much better power play unit than that.” The key here to this power play execution is Jakub Vrana getting power play time. We’ll see V PPGs soon from the even strength king.

But again this is about Backstrom, who helped finish that play to start the comeback.

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