Wild's home point streak ends in loss to Capitals

ST. PAUL -- The Wild got a taste of its own medicine against the Washington Capitals on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
For the fourth consecutive game on the current five-game homestand, one team jumped out to a 3-0 lead. This time, however, it wasn't Minnesota playing from in front. Playing against one of the NHL's perennial powers, the Wild discovered just how deep a three-goal hole is.
After a scoreless first period in which both the Capitals and Wild had reasons to be pleased, Washington turned it on in the second, getting goals from Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin. Andre Burakovsky made it 3-zip 2:29 into the third before Minnesota could find the scoreboard.

When it did, on Nino Niederreiter's effort play on top of the crease, the Wild showed signs of legitimate life. Zach Parise had a chance to make it a one-goal game a few minutes later, but couldn't find the net on a backhand try.
Two goals was as close as Minnesota would get.

"In the third period I thought we had a lot of desperation again," said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau. "We had chances. I mean, that's the way we've got to play all the time when we're down, not just the odd time."
That desperation hasn't been needed much on this homestand.
Minnesota hadn't chased in any of its previous three games, gaining 3-0 leads on the Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers.
The Coyotes scored an overtime win, but the Wild was able to hold on in the other two.
Thursday, Minnesota posted 18 shots in the third period -- two more than it had in the first and second periods combined -- but simply buried itself too deep by that point.
"I don't think we generated much for offense in the second, at least it didn't feel like it," Parise said. "Felt like we spent a lot of time in our own zone. I don't think we got that many shots on net. So it's tough to score when you're not spending time in the [offensive] zone."
The loss in regulation snapped Minnesota's 13-game point streak on home ice, and was the Wild's first defeat at home in regulation since a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 16.
"It was a tough game tonight, but we love playing at home. We need to bounce back. We need to win," said Wild forward Tyler Ennis. "It's so tight, it's important, and we know it. We're going to have a good skate tomorrow and be ready to go."

The Wild will conclude its home stretch Saturday afternoon against the Anaheim Ducks, perhaps its most important game to date.
The Ducks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 Thursday in Chicago, moving to within one point of the Wild for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
"It seems like we've been playing for a playoff spot since November. It's so tight. It's a huge game, there's nothing else to say to that," Ennis said. "Basically every game from here on out is huge."
Related:
- Postgame Hat Trick: Capitals 5, Wild 2 - Eric Staal's power-play goal](https://www.nhl.com/wild/video/staals-fortuitous-ppg/t-277437412/c-57861403) - Watch: Niederreiter scores his 100th NHL goal