Junior Capitals Go Down Again

The Washington Junior Capitals dropped another one-goal decision on Day 12, coming up just short against the Colorado Junior Avalanche 4-3.

Mikhail Kuleshov gave Washington a good start when he scored his first of the season on the power play from Patrick O'Sullivan and Matt Maglione at 10:34. Colorado tied the game less than a minute later when Skladany netted from Green and Viitanen at 11:31. The other action of the opening 20 minutes were a pair of fights won by the Avs. Darren Reid beat up Fabien Laniel at 2:56, and Mark Flood beat up O'Sullivan at 13:58.

The Junior Capitals regained the lead after just 10 seconds of the second period. Sean Bergenheim got the goal from Jean-Claude Sawyer and Maglione. Colorado answered with a pair of goals to go ahead 3-2. Green scored first from King and Bois on the power play at 6:04, before Klyazmin netted from O'Byrne and Foote at 14:34. In a third round of fisticuffs, O'Byrne and O'Sullivan fought to a draw at 17:33.

Washington tied the game early in the final period on a goal by Cory Urquhart from Maxim Orlov and Igor Shadulov at 5:28, but Martz's strike from Skladany and Belle at 14:03 gave Colorado the hard-fought victory.

Brad Topping made 28 saves in the loss and fell to 1-3. Nick Pannoni stopped 21 shots to earn the win for the Avs.

The Junior Capitals are back in action on Day 13 against Minnesota.