ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Wild top Capitals to win third straight

Spurgeon nets 2 as Minnesota doubles up Washington

NHL: Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) makes a save on Washington Capitals left wing Conor Sheary as Wild center Sam Steel (13) defends in the third period Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports

Jared Spurgeon scored two goals, Connor Dewar had two assists and Filip Gustavsson made 34 saves as the Minnesota Wild recorded a 4-2 road win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek also scored for the Wild, who have won three consecutive games.

Spurgeon's sixth and seventh goals of the season marked the veteran blue-liner's seventh multi-goal game of his 13-year NHL career.

Martin Fehervary had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. Dylan Strome also scored and Alex Ovechkin had two assists.

Washington is 2-4-0 in its last six games, a slump marked by a lack of offense. The Capitals have only 13 goals in those six games and are 0-for-13 on power-play chances.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Capitals outshot the Wild by a 36-22 margin, as Minnesota tied its fourth-lowest shots total of the season. However, Gustavsson carried his team and earned his 11th win of the season.

NHL: Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the second period Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023.
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports

Washington outshot Minnesota 13-3 in the first period, with Fehervary opening the scoring at the 18:57 mark. The defenseman combined with Ovechkin on a tremendous give-and-go play that resulted in Fehervary's fourth goal of the season.

Another nice passing play set up Strome's tally 5:05 into the second period. However, that wasn't enough for the Capitals to hold off the Wild, as Minnesota scored on three longer-range shots during the second frame.

At both the 0:50 and 18:15 marks of the period, Spurgeon launched shots from just inside the blue line that beat a screened Charlie Lindgren. Brodin also benefited from traffic in front of the net on his shot from the circle 13:12 into the second frame.

MORE MINNESOTA WILD COVERAGE:
Pro
They are an incredible 16-1-4 since a swoon last month dropped them below the playoff cut line
Pro
“It’s a wonderful problem for coaches to have,” Wild coach Dean Evason said.
Pro
It’s impossible to be more locked in than Boldy has been over the past few weeks.
Pro
Think of it as a bridge between the past and the present with an eye toward the future
Pro
This week will go a long way in determining that as the Wild play Seattle, Colorado and Vegas. All are near-locks to be playoff teams.
Pro
It was a tremendous play by Ryan Hartman as he worked to spring himself loose on a breakaway
Pro
The hope from the Wild remains that he will be ready for the start of the playoffs
Pro
Brodin has only 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) in 52 games this season after Thursday night’s matchup with Philadelphia.
Pro
Despite the loss, Minnesota (41-22-9, 91 points) is still 7-5 in shootouts this season, the most shootout victories in the NHL.
Pro
Winger scores with 1.3 seconds left in overtime.

Though the Capitals had another lopsided shots advantage (14-5) in the third period, Gustavsson continued to deny Washington's efforts. The goalie had a highlight-reel stop on Marcus Johansson late in the period, as Johansson's shot through the crease was barely kicked away by Gustavsson's skate blade.

Lindgren stopped 18 of 21 shots.

ADVERTISEMENT

______________________________________________________

This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.

What To Read Next
Pro
Pro
Get Local

ADVERTISEMENT