Washington's penalty killing outfit came up big on a couple of kills in the middle of the period to prevent the Wild from closing to within a goal, and then Nicklas Backstrom completed the top line trifecta to restore the Caps' three-goal lead.
Ovechkin ripped a shot on goal from the high slot, and it handcuffed Dubnyk and dropped at his feet. Backstrom was right there to pick up the loose change and deposit it into the bank, making it a 4-1 game with just 4:54 remaining.
Minnesota's Eric Staal scored a power-play goal to make it 4-2 with 3:12 left in the third, but the Wild would get no closer. Wilson iced it with an empty-netter, his second goal and third point of the night, to make winners of Washington and Grubauer.
Washington's win on Thursday in St. Paul also halted the Wild's run of 13 straight home games with at least a point (10-0-3).
"We're not going to win every single game here," says Dubnyk " There are going to be games like that. I thought we played well, and that's a dangerous team if they get a little bit of room. They got a couple of breaks and that's the game. We've just got to keep playing well."
Grubauer claimed his fifth win of the season on Thursday in his first ever appearance against Minnesota.
"Today we can say thanks to Grubi," says Ovechkin. "He was outstanding, especially in the third when they make a push."