Minnesota Goes Wild on Capitals

The Washington Capitals came crashing back to earth on Day 33 in a 7-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The loss drops Washington back to 7-7-2 for the season, and along with the loss in the standings, the Caps lost Rob Blake to a separated shoulder on a vicious cross-check by Ryan Whitney. The Wild player was suspended five games for the cowardly hit.

The Wild wasted little time taking control of the game, scoring four times in the first 7:45 of the first period. Deadmarsh opened the scoring from Petrov and Lecavalier on the power play at 2:50, and the same trio hooked up again at 5:25 to make it 2-0. Minnesota kept pouring it on, and Shasby scored two goals just six seconds apart at 7:39 and 7:45 to make it 4-0. Lecavalier and Deadmarsh assisted on the first tally, and the second was unassisted. The Capitals finally got on the board at 8:36 of the first when Zigmund Palffy scored an unassisted goal. Despite trailing 4-1 on the scoreboard, Washington actually outshot Minnesota 13-11 in the first 20 minutes.

Minnesota ended any hopes of a Caps comeback in the second period with two more goals. Whitney scored first from Laperriere at 8:41, and Chistov netted from Neil on the power play at 18:23. Washington had a chance to score with a man advantage of their own, but the offense couldn't get anything going.

It was all over but the shouting going into the third period, but that didn't stop Whitney from a violent and unwarranted cross-check to Blake at 0:24. Whitney was ejected for the dirty hit. The Capitals finally took advantage on their sixth power play of the game when Ivan Rachuneck scored his first of the season from Mikael Renberg and Jonathan Cheechoo at 5:21. The Wild answered right back, however, with Shasby completing his hat trick from Petrov and Deadmarsh at 7:51.

Manny Legace made just nine saves to take the loss for Washington. Peter Skudra stopped 15 of 17 shots in relief. Roman Cechmanek made 23 saves to earn the win for Minnesota.

The Capitals are back in action on Day 35 at home against the Detroit Red Wings.