The Washington Capitals faced off against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center, but their hopes of extending their lead in the Metropolitan Division were dashed as they fell 4-2. This defeat marked the Capitals' second consecutive loss and dropped their season record to 47-16-9, maintaining a .715 points percentage.
Goaltender Charlie Lindgren was in net for Washington, making 17 saves during the contest. The Capitals came into this game looking to rebound from a tough 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, where Alex Ovechkin scored his 889th career goal, bringing him to just six goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record.
The game began with a flurry of action. At 6:00 in the first period, Jon Merrill opened the scoring for Minnesota with a shot from the point that found its way through a crowd, beating Lindgren. Just over a minute later, at 7:08, Matt Roy responded for Washington, firing a wrist shot past Filip Gustavsson after a setup from Taylor Raddysh, tying the game at 1-1.
The Capitals quickly took the lead when Brandon Duhaime scored at 8:49, hammering home a rebound after a shot from Anthony Beauvillier was saved. The Wild challenged the goal for goaltender interference, claiming Nic Dowd had impeded Gustavsson's ability to make the save, but the goal stood after review. This marked Duhaime's ninth goal of the season.
Despite the promising start, the Capitals were unable to maintain their lead. The second period saw the Wild equalize at 12:25 when Frederick Gaudreau deflected a shot from Matt Boldy, knotting the game at 2-2. The Wild capitalized on their power play opportunity, showcasing their ability to convert chances.
As the period wound down, Boldy struck again, scoring with just 8.5 seconds left in the second. He picked up a loose puck and managed to slide it past Lindgren, giving Minnesota a crucial 3-2 lead heading into the final frame. This goal was a significant momentum shift for the Wild, who had been outshot 22-14 through the first two periods.
In the third period, Washington pressed hard for an equalizer, generating several scoring chances and firing nine shots on goal. However, Gustavsson was up to the task, stopping everything thrown his way after the midpoint of the first period. The Capitals' power play woes continued, as they remained scoreless on their opportunities, extending their drought to ten games.
With time winding down, the Capitals pulled Lindgren for an extra attacker in a desperate attempt to tie the game. However, Frederick Gaudreau sealed the victory for Minnesota with an empty-net goal at 18:39, finalizing the score at 4-2.
Post-game, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery expressed a mix of disappointment and optimism. “We did a lot of good things, so I'm not disappointed with the way that we played,” he said. “We knew we were going to get more offensive zone time than them. It was just a matter of who was going to be able to get on the inside and score a goal where you need to get to score.”
Despite the loss, the Capitals remain firmly in control of the Metropolitan Division, holding a 13-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes, who have a game in hand. Their next challenge will come against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday at 3 PM ET, where they will look to return to winning ways.
On a more emotional note, after the game, Ovechkin led his teammates in a heartfelt handshake line to honor Minnesota's Marc-Andre Fleury, who is in his final NHL season. Lindgren reflected on the moment, stating, “He was definitely one of my favorite goalies growing up, the way he competed, the way he battled, and just his personality.”
As the Capitals prepare for their next matchup, they will need to address their power play struggles and find a way to capitalize on their offensive zone time to avoid further setbacks.
With the playoffs approaching, every game is crucial, and the Capitals will look to regain their form and solidify their standing as one of the top teams in the league.
