Game Re-Caps

Capitals Tame Wild, 3-2 (SO); Tom Wilson Scores Shorthanded Goal, Dylan Strome Extends Goal Streak

By Della Young·
Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals defeated the Minnesota Wild by a score of 3-2 in a shootout Friday night at Capital One Arena. The win improved the Capitals’ record to 3-3-1 and 7 points on the season. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 39 saves in the victory.

Lines & Pairs

Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano – Evgeny Kuznetsov – T.J. Oshie
Connor McMichael – Nicklas Backstrom – Anthony Mantha
Beck Malenstyn – Aliaksei Protas – Matthew Phillips

Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Alex Alexeyev – Nick Jensen

Darcy Kuemper
Hunter Shepard

Scratches: Center Nic Dowd and defensemen Hardy Häman Aktell and Lucas Johansen

Injuries: Goaltender Charlie Lindgren (upper-body), defenseman Joel Edmundson (hand; long-term injured reserve), and forward Max Pacioretty (Achilles; long-term injured reserve)

First Period

Not even three minutes into the period, Minnesota center Marco Rossi would give the Wild an early 1-0 lead.

Notching his first of the season, Wilson would tie the game at 1-1 with a shorthanded beauty at the 9:49 mark. McMichael (1) and van Riemsdyk (1) assisted.

Strome (5) would give the Capitals a 2-1 lead on a power-play opportunity late in the opening frame. Ovechkin (4) and Kuznetsov (4) had the assists.

Quick Stats

SOG: 15-8 Wild

Face-Off Win %: 60% (Wild), 40% (Capitals)

Hits: 4-3 Capitals

Second Period

The middle frame would go scoreless.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 21-14 Wild

Face-Off Win %: 51% (Capitals), 48% (Wild)

Total Hits: 9-6 Wild

Third Period

Minnesota right-wing Ryan Hartman would tie the game at 2-2 just 1:16 into the final stanza on a breakaway.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 36-31 Wild

Face-Off Win %: 52% (Capitals), 47% (Wild)

Total Hits: 10-8 Wild

Overtime & Shootout

Neither team could covert during 3-on-3 five-minute overtime, and the game went into a shootout. The Capitals would win 3-2 with a goal from Carlson in the seventh round.

Notes Through the Game

  • Wilson’s eight career shorthanded goals are tied with Matt Pettinger for the eighth-most in franchise history.
  • Wilson extended his point streak to three games (1g, 2a).
  • McMichael has registered two points (1g, 1a) in his last two games, including the game-winning goal on Wednesday against New Jersey.
  • Ovechkin extended his point streak to five games (2g, 4a). Ovechkin has recorded 37 points (19g, 18a) in 22 career games against Minnesota (1.68 P/GP).
  • Kuznetsov passed Bengt Gustafsson (554) for the eighth-most points in franchise history. He is now three assists shy of passing Mike Gartner (392) for the fifth-most assists in franchise history.
  • Carlson’s shootout goal marked his fourth career shootout goal and first since December 6, 2021, versus Anaheim.
  • Kuemper, originally drafted by Minnesota with the 161st overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, stopped 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) tonight to earn his fourth career victory against the Wild.

The Capitals tangle with the San Jose Sharks at Capital One Arena on Sunday. Monumental Sports Network will have the coverage beginning at 5 PM ET.

By Della Young