Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 Tuesday night at Verizon Center. The win raised the Capitals record to 45-17-7 (97 points). The Capitals next host the Nashville Predators Thursday night at Verizon Center. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. 

Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Caps.

Andre Burakovsky missed his 13th consecutive game due to a hand injury.

Kevin Shattenkirk served the second of his two game suspension. Nate Schmidt replaced Shattenkirk in the lineup.

Taylor Chorney was the healthy scratch for the Caps.

QUICK NOTES:

• Alex Ovechkin broke a 20-game 5-on-5 scoreless streak in the second period.
• Ovechkin has 8 goals, 4 assists in 5 career games vs D.Dubnyk. 11 goals in 11 games versus the Wild. (@MillerPenaltybx)
• Caps end four game losing streak.
• Caps were 6 for 7 on the penalty kill.
• Caps had 40 shots on goal in the game.
• Tom Wilson played in his 300th NHL/Capitals game tonight.
• Justin Williams led all skaters in shots (8).
• Nate Schmidt scored a goal, marking his second of the season (1/5 vs. CBJ: 1g, 1a).
• Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his third power-play goal of the season and has earned nine points in his last 12 games (2/19-3/14: 4g, 5a).
• Jay Beagle scored a goal, marking his career-high 12th goal and 27th point of the season.
• Nicklas Backstrom earned three assists, marking his third three-assist game of the season and 34th of his career.

FIRST PERIOD:
The majority of the first period was dominated by the Minnesota Wild, but it would be the Caps that would notch the only tally of the period. Nate Schmidt would knock one home at the 19:48 mark of the opening frame.

The period would end with the Capitals leading 1-0. The Caps outshot the Wild 15-14 for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD:
Alex Ovechkin would give the Capitals a 2-0 lead with a goal from the office at 14:52 of the middle frame.

Evgeny Kuznetsov would stretch the Capitals lead to 3-0 with a power play goal at 17:08 of the middle frame.

The period would conclude with the Caps leading 3-0. The Caps outshot the Wild 14-11 for the second period, and led 29-25 in shots on goal thru two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD:
Matt Dumba would get the Wild on the board with a quick score at 0:37 into the final frame.

Eric Staal would close the gap to 3-2 with a power play goal at 4:37 of the final frame.

Jay Beagle would notch a tally late in the third period with a nasty wrister at 14:19 of the final frame.

Caught Wild in a line-change. So much room for activities. #CapsWild on @csnmapic.twitter.com/tbLFVgHkoq

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 15, 2017

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER:

I’m saying it ends at ten for @ovi8. Will it be one or more ? #CapsWild at 7 w/ @JoeBpXp,@Laughlin18 & @JillCSN on @CSNMApic.twitter.com/avlAI7DlzQ

— Al Koken (@RealSmokinAl) March 14, 2017

Definition o’meta: when one watches a dog playing hockey whilst at a hockey game #RocktheRed #capswild pic.twitter.com/1jWtEPXqlo

— Jester (@Hockeyjester) March 14, 2017

Victory March! #CapsWild#RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/m8JbRT1XQV

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 15, 2017

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