John Carlson scored the winning goal in the seventh round of a shootout as the host Washington Capitals claimed a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
Carlson was the lone skater to light the lamp in the extended showdown, giving the Capitals a second consecutive win for the first time this season. Two of Washington’s three victories this season have come via shootout.
Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome scored for the Capitals in the back-and-forth affair, while Alex Ovechkin netted one assist to run his point-scoring streak to five games, in which he’s collected two goals and six points. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 39 saves through overtime, five of them in the extra period, including a clutch stop against Marcus Johansson’s breakaway chance late in OT.
Marco Rossi and Ryan Hartman scored for the Wild, who have one win in their past five games (1-2-2). Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 31 shots through overtime, 18 in the third period.
It was a thrilling finish to an entertaining game in which both teams led but couldn’t hold their edge.
Rossi’s third goal of the season opened the scoring 2:17 into the game. Rossi took a cross-ice pass from Foligno for an open chance and buried a wrist shot from the slot.
The Capitals responded with two goals. Wilson joined a rush and ripped a shot from the bottom of the right circle at 9:49 of the opening period for the short-handed goal, his first tally of the season.
Strome added a power-play goal with 2:46 remaining in the opening frame. Instead of taking a shot, Ovechkin sent a pass to the far side of the crease for Strome to tap in for his fifth of the season.
After the Capitals had a goal taken off the board in the second period due to a successful offside challenge, Hartman evened the score at 2-2 just 76 seconds into the third period. Hartman stole the puck at his own blue line to create a breakaway and deposited a backhanded shot for his fifth of the season.
The Capitals have had a goal called back in three consecutive games.
–Field Level Media
