Artturi Lehkonen will return to the ice against the Washington Capitals after missing 35 games due to an upper-body injury. Several records were broken and new ones were set in the Avalanche's 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals. FIRST PERIOD The Capitals came in off a back-to-back after losing to the Minnesota Wild last night but did not lack energy coming out of the gate. "We've been playing pretty good at home, I would say. It's important to start well again tonight because they played last night — try to get on them early," Mikko Rantanen said after morning skate. While that didn't happen and the Avs lacked intensity in the first period, they managed to end it up by one from Cale Makar's shorthanded goal. Andrew Cogliano was awarded the assist. It was Makar's 76th career goal which put him on top of the franchise's all-time list for most goals by a defenseman. The Avs took the only two penalties in the period and the shots on goal ended up even at nine. SECOND PERIOD Nathan MacKinnon scored a natural hat trick in the middle frame, which was the first of its kind since Joe Sakic scored one in March of 2003. MacKinnon's points continued his home point streak and set a new franchise record for a home scoring streak at 24. Rantanen assisted on all three goals — scored within six minutes and 37 seconds —giving him three points in the period. Alexandar Georgiev continued to make big saves and held the Caps scoreless. The Avs had 12 shots on goal and the Caps had nine. THIRD PERIOD Dylan Strome scored both goals for the Caps — one at 12:34 and the other with less than two and a half minutes left in the game. Mikko Rantanen added a goal to the scoresheet with assists from MacKinnon and Ross Colton. Georgiev finished the game with 23 saves and the Avalanche outshot the Caps 31 - 25. RELATED AVALANCHE ARTICLES 'I'm sure it's going to come quickly for him,' Avs coach confident Lehkonen will fit back in lineup [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avs-coach-confident-lehkonen-will-fit-back-in-lineup] Avalanche forward expected to return vs Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avalanche-forward-expected-to-return-vs-capitals] Logan O'Connor earns 1st career hat trick in 7-4 win over Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avalanche-forward-earns-1st-career-hat-trick-in-7-4-win-over-flyers]
