Capitals Tame Wild 5-4 (OT)

Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Minnesota Wild 5-4 (Overtime) Tuesday night at Xcel Energy Center. The win raised the Capitals record to 50-17-8 (108 points). The Capitals next travel to Colorado to face the Avalanche on Wednesday night. Puck drop is a daunting 10:00 p.m.

Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Caps. It is anticipated that Philipp Grubauer will get the start in goal tomorrow night in Denver.

Taylor Chorney, Paul Carey and Nate Schmidt were the healthy scratches for the game.

This was the first game of a season-long five-game road trip for the Capitals. The game was also a first in a back-to-back set, concluding tomorrow night in Denver.

QUICK NOTES:

Nicklas Backstrom reached the 80-point plateau for the third time in his career.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 17th career hattrick – all power play goals. This was his 112th career multi-goal game.
Ovechkin has now ensured that ’16-17 won’t be his career low; notching his 33rd.
Alex Ovechkin’s assist tonight puts him past Brian Leetch & into a tie with Alex Kovalev for 74th on all-time scoring list with 1029 points.
T.J. Oshie had two goals, including the overtime game winner.
Marcus Johansson had four assists. This was his first career four assist game.
Braden Holtby won his 40th game of the season. This is his third consecutive 40-win season. Holtby joins Martin Brodeur (2005-08) and Evgeni Nabokov (2007-10) as the only goaltenders in NHL history to record three straight 40-win seasons

FIRST PERIOD:
T.J. Oshie would notch the game’s first tally with a knock-in of a rebound at 11:36 of the opening frame.

Oshie keeps rolling #CapsWild on @csnma pic.twitter.com/nlfR9esv9a

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 29, 2017

Tom Wilson and Chris Stewart dropped the gloves at 18:31 of the first period. The fight was prompted by a high stick by Wilson to Zach Parise prior to the altercation.

The first period would conclude with the Caps holding onto a 1-0 lead. The Capitals outshot the Wild 7-6 for the opening period. The Capitals successfully killed three penalties and did not have a power play.

SECOND PERIOD:
The Wild opened the second period with a furious offensive push, which culminated in a game tying goal by Jason Pominville at 2:17 of the middle frame.

The Capitals would regain the lead on a power play goal by Alex Ovechkin at 7:31 of the second period.

Ovi’s first 🚨 of the night #CapsWils on @csnma pic.twitter.com/QDhwqpFhur

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 29, 2017

Alex Ovechkin would make it 3-1 on another power play goal at 12:28 of the second period.

Ovi 2-for-2! #CapsWild on @csnma pic.twitter.com/nDOebE9jNY

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 29, 2017

The Wild would cut into the Caps lead with a goal by Martin Hanzal at the 15:43 mark of the middle frame, making it 3-2.

The period would end with the Capitals leading 3-2. Minnesota outshot the Caps 13-7 for the middle frame, and led 19-14 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD:
Alex Ovechkin would complete the hattrick with a power play goal at 12:29 of the final frame, giving the Caps a 4-2 lead.

🎩🎩🎩#CapsWild @csnma pic.twitter.com/cXYoHACPQI

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 29, 2017

John Walton call:

Minnesota would close the gap to 4-3 on a bouncing goal by Jared Spurgeon at 15:03 of the the third period.

The Wild would tie it up with a late goal by Eric Staal at 19:33 of the final frame. Regulation would end in a 4-4 tie.

OVERTIME:
The Capitals would win it on a goal by T.J. Oshie with 1:52 left in overtime. The Caps hold on to a three point lead in the Metropolitan Division, with seven games remaining.