Dubnyk gets league-best 4th shutout as Wild beat Bruins 1-0

As Nicklas Backstrom scored the extra point on the Washington Capitals’ touchdown, he barely flinched as the red goal light went off for a seventh time.

Backstrom’s most recent effort helped the Capitals get a goal scoring monkey off of their back. The Capitals are a top ten team in shot generation, but they have been really impressive on the shot suppression front which may surprise some people.

Two of the NHL’s biggest stars of the past decade clash on “Wednesday Night Rivalry” this week, when Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. This is the breakout performance we’ve been waiting for from Backstrom. Backstrom scored a goal. Braden Holtby stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced, allowing only a late goal to Phil Kessel.

Michael Frolik scored 49 seconds into overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 2-1 win over the visiting Coyotes on Wednesday night.

The loss is just the Penguins’ second regulation loss in their past nine games, but also second in their last three, following a 4-2 defeat to Minnesota on Thursday night.

Things stayed on the rails for the Penguins most of the first period. Brett Connolly was called for cross-checking 6:48 into the game, and the penalty turned out to be a blessing for Washington. It was a great night to be a Capitals fan. Pittsburgh G Matt Murray has allowed a total of only five goals while winning each of his four starts this campaign.

Washington has dropped back-to-back games and three of their last four contests.

You’ll get one or two of these bad losses a year.

Ellis beat Condon on the far side with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the opening period to put the Predators up 2-1. Expect goals, drama and the mouth-watering return of the Crosby versus Alexander Ovechkin battle.

The Capitals seized the momentum.

Oshie has five goals in his last seven games and the four points tied his career high. With 24 seconds left, Murray’s mask was knocked off as Malkin and Washington’s Karl Alzner began scuffling behind him. Malkin’s stick then swung around and hit Murray in the face. That goal came against an ice-cold Fleury, who didn’t get to warm up after replacing Murray when he was injured. That’s such a rarity that Crosby has more multi-point games this season than games without points. That is an 82 game pace of 91 goals and one that will not be sustained by the Penguins captain.

Dmitry Orlov continued the offensive production five minutes into the second period by capitalizing on an odd man rush, firing home a wrist shot off of Fluery’s right arm and in.