The Colorado Avalanche (14-17-1, 29 pts) lead the Washington Capitals (16-13-1, 33 pts) by a score of 1-0 through the first period.
Just two and a half minutes into the first period, the Avalanche got their first goal of the evening as fifth-year man out of Manitoba, LW Cody McLeod, fired a 66-foot wrister past G Michal Neuvirth for a 1-0 Colorado lead. The goal marks McLeod's first of the season and his first since he knocked one in against the Calgary Flames on March 17, 2011. Despite his goal, McLeod still has the fewest minutes on ice for either team with 1:23.
If the Avalanche hope to maintain their precarious lead, they will need continued excellence from Jean-Sebastien Giguere who has collected 11 saves through the first period. The Caps have thus far out-shot the Avalanche with Colorado collecting only nine shots of their own.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Capitals blog Japer's Rink.