Colorado @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 7, 2019 ) Colorado 3, Washington 4

The Colorado Avalanche proved their mettle during their season-opening four-game homestand, winning the first three contests by two goals apiece before pulling out an overtime victory in their last outing. The Avalanche hope their success travels well on Monday when they begin a season-high six-game trek against the Washington Capitals.

Former Capital Andre Burakovsky recorded his second game-winning goal in as many contests as Colorado improved to 4-0-0 for the first time since the 2013-14 season with Saturday's 3-2 victory over Arizona. The 24-year-old Russian is facing his former team for the first time since being traded to the Avalanche in June for a second- and third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. While Colorado is without a blemish in 2019-20, Washington addressed an early-season bugaboo by preserving a third-period lead in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Dallas to snap a three-game winless skid (0-1-2). The Capitals converted on a pair of power plays for the second time in as many contests to boost their total to six goals with the man advantage on the young season.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (4-0-0): Cale Makar is rewarding Colorado's faith in him by becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to begin his career with at least one point in his first four regular-season games. The Avalanche elected to move on from offensive-minded blue-liner Tyson Barrie and shift their focus toward the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, who turned heads in the spring by scoring one goal and setting up five others in 10 playoff contests before notching five assists this season. Nathan MacKinnon also has set up five goals while his six points are tied with linemate Mikko Rantanen for the team lead.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (3-1-2): Defenseman John Carlson recorded his third straight multi-point performance and fourth of the season after scoring and setting up a goal on Saturday. The 29-year-old Carlson, who leads all NHL blue-liners in assists (eight) and points (10) entering play Sunday, set up a goal in each of Washington's two overtime wins over Colorado in 2018-19. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who joined Nicklas Backstrom in netting an OT goal versus the Avalanche last season, tallied for the second time in three contests on Saturday since serving a season-opening three-game suspension for inappropriate conduct.

OVERTIME

1. Washington G Braden Holtby sports a 5-1-0 record with a 2.34 goals-against average in six career starts versus Colorado.

2. The Avalanche have scored a power-play goal in all four of their games this season.

3. Capitals captain LW Alex Ovechkin has three goals and an assist in his last three contests.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Avalanche 3