Wild-Capitals: Insult Added to Injury as Washington Falls to Minnesota 4-3

Despite a furious late third period comeback attempt, the Washington Capitals (11-7-3, first in Southeast Division) lost their third straight game road game, this time to the Minnesota Wild, 4-3, at the Xcel Energy Center. The loss drops the Caps 1-3-1 on their extended road trip, and the injuries keep piling up.

The most devastating of the new injuries came to defenseman Jeff Schultz, who broke a finger in the first period blocking a shot. The team has already stated he will miss at least a couple weeks for the digit to heal. The injury leaves an already depleted defense squad further reduced, leaving the team no choice in calling up a player for tomorrow's game against Atlanta. There is already mounting speculation that player will be Sami Lepisto.

In addition, forward Boyd Gordon left the game with back spasms and defender John Erskine left with an undisclosed injury. Along with Mike Green, Sergei Federov and  Alexander Semin, these players will be listed as day-to-day, though the latter three have missed several games already.

As for the game itself, the Caps played like the tired and wounded team they are, completing a four-game, seven-day stretch across the west coast of the country.

Minnesota built a 4-0 lead midway through the third period on two goals from rookie Cal Clutterbuck, the first two of his career. Marek Zidlicky and James Sheppard added the third and fourth goals, with Sheppard's proving to be the eventual game winner. It was his first goal in 48 games.

Zidlicky's goal came on a 5-on-3 power place as a result of two consecutive penalties called 26 seconds apart on the Capitals' Tom Poti and Alex Ovechkin.

Washington's comeback started at 14:43 of the third when Matt Bradley slid a backhanded shot, his third of the season, past Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom. Alex Ovechkin notched his ninth a minute later utilizing his patented delay shot, using a Minnesota defender to screen the normally reliable Backstrom.

At 18:16, the Caps' Niklas Backstrom scored against his namesake on a power play, cutting the lead to just one.

However, the Caps had dug themselves too deep a hole and could never realize the equalizer.

Backstrom's goal gives him 16 points in his last nine games.

The Caps return home to face the Atlanta Thrashers Wednesday night at 7:00 pm ET from the Verizon Center.
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THREE STARS

1. C. Clutterbuck - MIN (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)

2. M. Zidlicky - MIN (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)

3. M. Koivu - MIN (Goals: 0, Assists: 1)
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NOTES: Minnesota is 5-0 against the Caps at home in their history.

Washington gave up 26 goals on its five-game road trip. They play just one game the rest of the season (at Nashville) outside the Eastern time zone.

Ovechkin's goal was his first career marker against Minnesota. The only teams remaining he has not scored against are Los Angeles and San Jose.