The Wild are 9-2-2 in the past 13 games and have held opponents to two goals or fewer in nine of those 13. They also have points in their past 13 home games (10-0-3), their longest-ever streak. Minnesota is two points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. The Capitals, who have lost their past two games in overtime, have a three-point lead on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Metropolitan Division.
Players to watch
Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in an eight-game point streak. Minnesota forward Eric Staal has five points (three goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak and 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in the past 11 games.
They said it
"We need to put a complete 60 [minutes] together. We've been able to put 20-, 30-, 40-minute games together, but we haven't been able to put a complete 60 [minutes], and it's time for us to do that." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz "I think we've got confidence when we play [at home]. Washington hasn't seemed to have any problem coming into this building and being successful though. It's a great test for us. ... We'll find out where we really stand after tonight." -- Wild coach Bruce Boudreau
Beagle will play after being considered day-to-day because of an undisclosed injury sustained during a 4-3 overtime loss against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Grubauer will start for the first time since making 27 saves in a 4-3 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 4 … Koivu will play his 900th NHL game.
Stat pack
Ovechkin has eight points (three goals, five assists) in the past six games. Carlson has five points (three goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak and 10 points (five goals, five assists) in the past 10 games. … Granlund has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in the past 14 games. Parise has four points (one goal, three assists) during a four-game point streak.
