Avalanche and Capitals Face Off in Sunday Matinee

NHL Network to broadcast the matchup between the top Western team and a struggling Eastern squad.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:23am

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The Colorado Avalanche, the top team in the Western Conference, will visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon. The Avalanche hold a commanding lead in the West with 100 points, while the Capitals are struggling in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 78 points. Several key players for the Avalanche are listed as out or day-to-day with injuries.

Why it matters

This game features a stark contrast between the dominant Avalanche and the underperforming Capitals. The Avalanche are looking to continue their strong season and solidify their position atop the West, while the Capitals are fighting to stay in playoff contention in the East.

The details

The game will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network, with puck drop scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The Avalanche will be without several key players, including Gabriel Landeskog, Logan O'Connor, and Artturi Lehkonen, who are all out with various injuries. The Capitals will also be missing some players, with Ross Colton listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury and David Kampf out for non-injury related reasons.

  • The game will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Colorado Avalanche

The top team in the Western Conference with 100 points, led by a talented roster that has been hampered by injuries of late.

Washington Capitals

Struggling in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 78 points, trying to stay in playoff contention.

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The takeaway

This game will showcase the stark contrast between the dominant Avalanche and the underperforming Capitals. The Avalanche are looking to continue their strong season, while the Capitals are fighting to stay in playoff position in the East.