Capitals Tie Wild

The Washington Capitals earned at least a point in its second straight game on Day 93 in a 3-3 tie with the Minnesota Wild. Washington is now 16-23-6 and clinging to life in the playoff race.

Washington got on the board first in a fast first period when Zigmund Palffy netted from Anson Carter and Rob Blake at 12:37. It was the only goal of the period, despite 10 shots each for both teams.

Minnesota turned things around in the second period, and a pair of goals in the first 5:38 gave the Wild the lead. Brown got the first from Smolinski and Smith at 2:07, before Hamel connected on the power play from Perreault and Bouwmeester at 5:38. The Capitals rallied to tie the game just 2:10 after Hamel's goal when Frantisek Lukes scored from Mikael Renberg and Dan Boyle, but just under six minutes later it was Minnesota lighting the lamp again. Lecavalier was the scorer, his 29th of the season, from Komisark and Plekanec at 13:46. Washington kept fighting, however, and Greg Watson's goal from Todd Warriner and Peter Tenkrat at 16:42 made it 3-3.

The Capitals fired 17 shots at the Minnesota goal in the final period, but Roman Cechmanek stood tall in the Wild net to keep Washington off the board and preserve the tie.

Manny Legace stopped 20 shots for Washington. Cechmanek had 34 saves for Minnesota.

The Capitals return to action on Day 94 in Florida.