Capitals goalie Fucale sets NHL record in shootout loss to Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Mats Zuccarello scored the tying goal with 35 seconds left in the third period, and the Minnesota Wild defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2 in the shootout at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday.

With Kaapo Kahkonen pulled for the extra attacker, Zuccarello scored from above the right face-off circle to make it 2-2.
Kahkonen made 29 saves, and Kevin Fiala and Frederick Gaudreau scored in the shootout for Minnesota (21-10-2), which won its second straight despite being without nine players.
"I think everyone in there did a [heck] of a job," Zuccarello said. "… I think whoever comes in to play steps up and does the job, and tonight was a good example of that. Like [Fiala] said before me, we're all leaders. Everyone can be a leader in different ways.
"It's just a good win against a really good team."
Zach Fucale stopped 21 of 22 shots for Washington and set the record for the longest streak without allowing a goal to begin an NHL career at 138:07.
"That's incredible. I did not know that," said Fucale, who made his second NHL start in his third game. "That's wild, wild stuff. It's good, quality night, but I'm mad at myself at that goal. To me, that's tough goal to give. Just another little experience I've got to learn from."

Zuccarello's goal ended the streak; Wild forward Marcus Foligno was credited with the goal that cut it to 2-1 at 13:55 of the second period when Capitals forward Carl Hagelin's pass went into an empty net with Fucale off the ice for an extra attacker during a delayed penalty.
The previous record was 102:48, set by Matt Hackett with the Wild from Dec. 6-8, 2011.
"We needed that goal at that time, right?" Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. "We were reeling a little bit. They were coming. We needed some kind of a break. And we were fortunate to have got it and really helped our mental psyche. … That really gave us a jump."
Connor McMichael and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored for the Capitals (20-7-9), who have lost three in a row (0-1-2) and have not lost consecutive games in regulation this season.
"I thought we played well tonight," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. "It's disappointing on the results. You talk about the first goal and then they tie it up at the end and win in a shootout. So it leaves you with a really lousy taste in your mouth. But I thought the guys put up a pretty good effort."
McMichael gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 2:41 of the second period when Nick Jensen's shot deflected in off of him. Kuznetsov made it 2-0 on the power play at 5:48 with a one-timer from the right circle off a pass by Alex Ovechkin.

Kahkonen made a sprawling toe save on Lars Eller at 11:40 to keep it a two-goal game. Video review initiated by the Situation Room determined the puck did not cross the goal line.
"We did so many really so many really good things in this hockey game tonight starting from our goaltender," Evason said, "and our defensive game was real good. … And then just staying together, sticking together, competing together. And just being resilient and getting the job done at the end."
NOTES: The Wild were without goalie Cam Talbot (lower body), defensemen Alex Goligoski (NHL COVID-19 protocol), Jonas Brodin (upper body) and Jared Spurgeon (lower body), and forwards Kirill Kaprizov (upper body), Joel Eriksson Ek (upper body), Nick Bjugstad (upper body), Jordan Greenway (protocol) and Brandon Duhaime (protocol). … Minnesota has scored an NHL-high 10 goals at 6-on-5 this season and leads the League with four tying goals in the final minute of the third period. … Foligno scored his 100th NHL goal in his 637th game. … Zuccarello (one goal, four assists) and Fiala (three goals, two assists) each extended his point streak to four games. Fiala assisted on Zuccarello's goal. … Eller had an assist on Kuznetsov's goal and has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past 10 games. … Washington had won six straight at Minnesota dating to March 19, 2015.