Defensive Pairs:
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Chorney
Orpik-Orlov

John Carlson was scratched with a lower body injury. Michael Latta was scratched due to illness. Mike Weber was a healthy scratch. Braden Holtby got the start in net for the Capitals.  Darcy Kuemper got the start for the Wild.

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

QUICK TAKES
The Capitals first period woes would continue, allowing the games first goal. The Capitals have now allowed the games first goal in seven straight, and 14 of last 17 games. The Wild led 12-3 in shots on goal after the first period. The second period would see both teams scoring a goal, but the Wild still out-skated the Caps, as the Caps showed difficulty entering the offensive zone throughout the first 40 minutes of the game. The Caps would rally on a tiring Wild team for the win. Alex Ovechkin scored his 40th goal of the season in the third period. Ovechkin is 10th player in NHL history to record eight or more 40 goal seasons. Brooks Orpik scored a goal and has tallied six points in his last six games.  Team stats for the game can be found here: Individual player stats for the game can be found here:  All of the game photos can be found here:

A fairly even 5-on-5 for the first five minutes of the game. Brooks Orpik was whistled for holding at 5:54, giving the Wild the game’s first man-advantage. The Caps would do a great job of killing the penalty, allowing no shots on goal. Minnesota led 5-2 in shots on goal at the eight minute mark of the game. The Wild took control of the 5-on-5 play for the middle part of the period, at one point totaling more than 90 seconds of consecutive offensive zone time. Matt Niskanen was whistled for the game’s second penalty at 12:50 of the first period. The Caps penalty kill would again limit the Wild to zero shots on goal during the man-advantage. Tom Wilson was called for the game’s third penalty, tripping at 17:34. This time the Wild would Capitalize. Mikko Koivu would score on a deflected shot at 19:18 of the opening frame.

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The first period would end with the Wild leading 1-0. The Wild led in shots on goal 12-3.

Brooks Orpik would tie the game on a deflected shot at 00:49 of the second period.

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Nino Niederreiter would get the lead back for the Wild on a break-away goal at 5:05 of the second period.

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The second period would end with the Wild leading 2-1. The Wild led in shots on goal 22-16 after two periods of play.

Alex Ovechkin would tie the game at 2-2 on a power play goal, his 40th of a season, at 4:35 of the final frame.

Forty goals, eight times for @ovi8. Incredible.https://t.co/PIMStBLKtr

— NHL (@NHL) February 27, 2016