Eurolanche

Avalanche dominates against Capitals

This is the first of two games between the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. Colorado has won four straight games against Washington. The Capitals have not defeated the Avalanche since a 6-1 victory at Pepsi Center on Dec. 15, 2009.

Avalanche (6-8-5)

Goaltender Semjon Varlamov has stopped 73 of 75 shots in two victories against his former teammates since arriving in Colorado. However, his status for this game is in question because of a groin injury. Calvin Pickard was recalled for the second time this season because of Varlamov's injury. After earning a Vezina Trophy nomination last season with a .927 save percentage, Varlamov is at .918 in 2014-15, which is more in line with his .917 career average. Coach Patrick Roy also announced defenseman Ryan Wilson, who had played in three games, is out for the season because he will need shoulder surgery. Offseason addition Brad Stuart also remains out with a hamstring injury.

Capitals (8-7-3)

Washington dropped back-to-back games last weekend before rebounding with a 2-1 overtime victory Tuesday at the Arizona Coyotes. The Capitals have three goals in the past three games, and they've been scored by Joel Ward, Jay Beagle and Eric Fehr. Alex Ovechkin has eight goals in 18 games, but is shooting only 9.9 percent on 81 shots, which is his lowest percentage since 2010-11, when he had a career-low 32 goals and scored on 8.7 percent of his shots on goal. Ovechkin's Corsi for percentage is back above 50 percent (52.64), which would be the first time in a season since 2010-11 during Bruce Boudreau's final full season as his coach.

-- by Cory Masisak for NHL.com --