Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals defeated the Minnesota Wild by a final score of 5-2 on Tuesday night to begin their four-game road trip at the Xcel Energy Center. Goaltender Pheonix Copley made 25 saves in the win. The Wild suffered their first home regulation loss of the season, entering the game 5-0-2 at home. 

Capitals Lines at Wild

#Caps‘ lines vs MIN:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 77-Oshie
10-Connolly, 20-Eller, 65-Burakovsky
18-Stephenson, 72-Boyd, 25-Smith-Pelly

9-Orlov, 74-Carlson
6-Kempny, 2-Niskanen
29-Djoos, 22-Bowey

Copley vs. Dubnyk. #CapsWild

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) November 14, 2018

Forward Tom Wilson returned from a 16-game suspension after his 20-game suspension was reduced by arbitrator Shyam Das on Tuesday. He skated in his normal spot on the top line.

First Period

Dmitry Orlov opened the scoring with a snipe from the left circle to the glove side of Devan Dubnyk after an around-the-world pass from Lars Eller at the top 6:33 in for a 1-0 Capitals lead. The goal marked Orlov’s first of the season.

Tiger circles around and sets up Orly to get us on the board 👍#Caps 1 – Wild 0 #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/XBAu1UlYWB

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 14, 2018

Wilson tipped in Orlov’s shot from the left wall in the crease with 27.4 seconds left to extend to lead to 2-0. Dubnyk was ran over by his own defender but the goal still counted as Wilson tallied in his season debut. Wilson was called for goalie interference on the play but the goal stood up. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov was credited with the secondary assist for the 200th assist of his career.

Orlov pays it forward and Willy gets his first goal of the season! #Caps 2 – Wild 0 #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/U0KV6xd24V

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 14, 2018

The Capitals led 12-6 in shots and 4-3 in blocked shots through 20 minutes. Washington also won 63% of the faceoffs in the first period. They went 0-for-1 on the man advantage.

The Wild led 7-0 in takeaways and 11-3 in hits in the first frame.

Each team was credited with two takeaways in the first period.

Second Period

Eric Staal made it 2-1 37 seconds in but the goal was waved off after kicking it with his skate from near the goal line after getting Mikael Granlund’s feed.

Chandler Stephenson had a shorthanded breakaway at the end of Wilson’s penalty but was thwarted by a flying poke-check​ from Dubnyk.

Diving poke check. pic.twitter.com/VoTfN9hQFn

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) November 14, 2018

Andre Burakovsky made it 3-0 getting a rebound off of Eller’s rebound on the doorstep 3:13 into the period for his second of the year.

Burkie buries it and just like that we’re up 3-0! #CapsWild #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/BCbzhxLMkG

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 14, 2018

Copley denied Nino Neittereiter not once but twice on a redirect and a third opportunity on the penalty kill around 11 and a half minutes into.

Wild captain Mikko Koivu cut the lead to 3-1 after defenseman Michal Kempny turned it over in the defensive zone. The puck trickled past Copley 11:57 into the second.

Immidiately following Koivu’s tally, Wilson dropped the gloves with forward Marcus Foligno at center ice.

The Capitals led 27-14 in shots, including 15-8 in the middle frame, and 10-7 in blocked shots after two periods of play. Washington won 60% of the faceoffs through 40 minutes.

The Wild led 10-0 in takeaways and 15-5 in hits after two. They had only three giveaways while the Capitals had four through 40.

Each team had two power-plays in the first two periods but neither team converted.

Third Period

Orlov roofed his second of the night on a three-on-two with Ovechkin and Wilson. Ovechkin threw it cross rink and slapped it from the right dot for a 4-1 lead and his second of the night 7:23 into the third.

Ovi -> Orly = GOAL#Caps lead 4-1 #CapsWild #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Ls74SiHzdf

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 14, 2018

T.J. Oshie ripped it top shelf to make it 5-1 with 10:12 to go from the left dot after getting a pass from Backstrom, who tallied a point in his sixth straight game, in the slot.

Flawless passing? Bullseye for Oshbabe.#Caps up 5 – 1 #CapsWild #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/NfQLWSOUZB

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 14, 2018

Zach Parise cut the lead to three with 5:52 to go deflecting Foligno’s tip from Matt Dumba’s point shot for his eighth of the season.

The Capitals led 33-28 in shots and 20-9 in blocked shots. Washington won 51% of the faceoffs. They went 0-for-2 on the power play.

The Wild led 14-6 in third-period shots, 10-2 in takeaways, and 21-9 in hits. They had only three giveaways while the Capitals had six. Minnesota went 1-for-6 on the man advantage.

The Capitals are right back at it against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Centre tomorrow night. Action from Winnipeg can be found on NBC Sports Washington+ starting at 8 PM.

By Harrison Brown