The Colorado Avalanche lead the Washington Capitals entering the third period, looking for their second win in their last six games.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first period, the Avalanche saw their tenuous grasp on the 1-0 lead slip away when Alexander Semin launched his sixth goal of the season on a 29-foot wrister past G Jean-Sebastien Giguere with just 6"51 remaining in the period. The Avalanche wasted no time in responding, however, reclaiming their lead less than a minute later.
Paul Stastny won a faceoff against Nicklas Backstrom, getting the puck to Erik Johnson for the 10-foot tip in goal for a 2-1 Avalanche lead -- Johnson's first goal of the season. A tripping penalty on T.J. Galiardi gave the Avalanche a power play, which Colorado will carry into the first 18 seconds of the third and final period.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Capitals blog Japer's Rink.