Game 3 Preview: Avs @ Capitals

The beat continues on for the Bednar regime in Colorado as for the second game in a row, the Avs respond to an early two goal deficit and come back to grind out a victory. This time, however, the win required some late game heroics by the captain, Gabriel Landeskog. While the letters on the sweaters below him may have moved around this season, the C remains firmly planted on the shoulder of Landeskog. Though he may be guilty of becoming invisible in the past, the captain was very visible as he netted the tying and game winning goals in Monday's contest with the reigning Stanley Cup champions. With the Penguins in the rearview mirror and another notch added to Jared Bednar's undefeated NHL resume, the Avs immediately shift their focus to another top team from last season.

The Washington Capitals bulldozed their way through the NHL last regular season en route to an NHL best 56-18-8 record last season. The Capitals stood behind their All-star goaltender, Branden Holtby. Holtby had an historic season last year, tying Martin Brodeur's record for most wins in a season and taking home the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. Holtby will be honored for that achievement ahead of Tuesday's game with the Avalanche. Holtby will look to channel that 2015-2016 season against an Avalanche team that is lighting the lamp through the first two games.

LINES

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Iginla

Grigorenko-Soderberg-Duchene

G. Bourque-Colborne-R. Bourque

Martinsen-Smith-Comeau

Zadorov-Johnson

Beauchemin-Barrie

Wierchioch-Tyutin

Varlamov

Pickard

NOTES

- Matt Duchene is one of four players on the Avalanche who played the first two games to be without a point.

- The reigning goal champion, Alex Ovechkin is without a point through the first two games.

- The Capitals outscored the Avalanche 11-5 in their two meetings last season.

GAME INFO

Game time: 5pm MT

TV: ALT