John Carlson’s Shootout Winner Leads Capitals Over Wild

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It took seven rounds, but the Washington Capitals came out ahead after a shootout Friday en route to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild.

After six scoreless rounds for both sides, Capitals defenseman John Carlson beat Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for the score. On the corresponding attempt, Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper blocked the shot from Wild forward Pat Maroon, securing the Capitals win.

It was an apt conclusion to a game in which neither team outplayed the other during regulation, with both the Capitals and Wild trading strong blows.

The Wild went ahead first, with Kuemper surrendering the initial goal to Minnesota’s Marco Rossi a mere two minutes into the game. The Wild continued to hold the momentum after the Capitals were whistled for two penalties in the opening nine minutes.

However, the Wild’s lead was short lived as Tom Wilson dug the Capitals out of the hole. Assisted by Connor McMichael and Trevor van Riemsdyk, Wilson beat Minnesota goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to tie the score at 1-1.

Just before the first intermission, Dylan Strome gave the Capitals the lead with his fifth goal in four games.

The Wild, meanwhile, had nearly twice as many shots on goal in the first period as the Capitals, 15-8, but could only muster the single goal.

The score stayed stagnant throughout the second period, with the teams combining for 14 shots on goal. But eventually Wild forward Ryan Hartman broke the ice early in the third period, knotting the score at 2-2.

A successful penalty kill by the Capitals appeared promising, but neither the Capitals nor the Wild could find the net before the end of regulation.

After six rounds in which neither team could find the net, Carlson broke through for the Capitals. Kuemper’s save of Maroon’s shot gave the Capitals the win, and with it the team’s first winning streak of the season.

OFF TO THE BOX

Five Capitals served time in the penalty box: Evgeny Kuznetsov, for hooking and tripping; Anthony Mantha, for tripping; John Carlson, for slashing; Dylan Strome, for goaltender interference and Tom Wilson, for roughing.

UP NEXT

The Capitals host the winless San Jose Sharks on Sunday, with puck drop scheduled for 5 p.m.