Wild beat Caps 5-0: power play's in the red, no one can score, neutral-zone turnovers aplenty

"Vladimir Tarasenko scored the first of two brilliant goals with a great shot screened by a large percentage of the on-ice Capitals. Kirill Kaprizov doubled the lead in the second period, securing a rebound on the power play. Tarasenko's second of the night came in the third period, right after a faceoff. Danila Yurov, who is new to me, made it 4-0 on Tarasenko's rebound. Bouldy got a shorthanded goal, to add a whole other dimension of humiliation."

"This is the second time Washington has been shut out this season. They got blanked by Dallas in October. The Wild rank in the league's bottom five in five-on-five possession and shooting percentage. Even with Hughes on their side, they struggled with possession against the mostly coordinated Caps. But if the Caps can't score, then that's all that matters. Mostly was doing work in the prior bullet. Caps' breakdowns created Wild breakaways, and there were way too many of both, and they decided the game."

"I wanted the Caps to get Quinn Hughes. The best counter argument wasn't that Ryan Leonard projects too well; it's that the Caps are relatively strong in the positions Quinn would play. I love the big swing for Bill Guerin and Minnesota, but I don't think it changes their fate. And I'd bet by February 2027 Quinn's not going to be allowed to fill up his own gas tank."

Minnesota defeated Washington decisively, with Vladimir Tarasenko scoring twice and Kirill Kaprizov, Danila Yurov and Brock Bouldy adding goals in a 5-0 result. The Capitals were shut out for the second time this season, previously blanked by Dallas. The Wild rank in the league's bottom five in five-on-five possession and shooting percentage, yet they capitalized on Capitals' defensive breakdowns and breakaways to produce the scoring. Charlie Lindgren made notable saves on chances driven by Dylan Strome. Hendrix Lapierre had a near opportunity, but Washington failed to convert. Minnesota's acquisition of Quinn Hughes represented an aggressive move by Bill Guerin.

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