Junior Capitals Go Down Again

The Washington Junior Capitals put up a fight for two periods, but a pair of Minnesota goals in the final frame gave the Junior Wild a 4-2 victory on Day 17. The loss drops Washington to 2-7-0 for the season.

Washington opened a 1-0 lead in the first period thanks to a power play goal from Mikhail Kuleshov at 1:51. Greg Mauldin and Gennady Stolyarov assisted on the tally.

Minnesota fought back in the second period after killing an early penalty to Klepis. Vanek tied the game from Kostitsyn and Smaby at 4:02. After a fight between Voros and Mauldin, the Capitals regained the lead through Fabien Laniel from Peter Pohl and Patrick O'Sullivan at 11:20. Once again the Wild came back to tie the score, but this time it only took them 1:04. Klepis got the goal from Lutes and Ezhov to make it 2-2. Another fight late in the period saw a player from each team ejected. Minnesota's Murray beat up Mauldin at 17:10 and both players got the gate.

After early roughing minors on both teams, the Wild took their first lead of the game at 4:09 when Vanek scored his second of the game. This time it was Smaby and Pouliot combining for the assists. Washington tried to get things even on the screboard, but a goalie interference penalty on Laniel at 8:14 made things difficult. The Capitals killed off the penalty, but Minnesota still extended the lead at 13:55 when Kostitsyn netted from Pouliot and Vanek. While the Capitals failed to score, the fans did get one more fight as Laniel beat up the Wild's Smaby with just 3:59 to play.

Daniel Taylor made 27 saves in the loss for Washington. Jim Howard stopped 28 shots to improve to 5-2-2 for the Wild.

The Junior Capitals are off until Day 21 when they host the Los Angeles Junior Kings.