Postgame Hat Trick: Capitals 5, Wild 2

Wild.com's Dan Myers gives three takeaways from the Wild's 5-2 loss against the Washington Capitals at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Thursday night:

1. Minnesota saw its franchise-record point streak on home ice come to an end.
The Wild, which had gone 10-0-3 in its previous 13 games at Xcel Energy Center, never led as Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 32 saves for his fifth victory of the season.
Minnesota had trouble generating much of anything until it faced a three-goal deficit in the third period.
It finally broke through a few minutes into the third when Nino Niederreiter jammed away at a loose puck in the blue paint, but by then, the Wild was already down three goals.

Zach Parise nearly got the Wild to within one a couple minutes later when Jason Zucker sprung him for a quick scoring chance. Parise, alone but on his backhand, was stymied by Grubauer, who was solid the rest of the way in victory.
Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin scored goals for the Capitals in the second period and Andre Burakovsky added to the lead early in the third.
Washington has now won the past seven meetings against Minnesota, including the past four in St. Paul.
2. Niederreiter's goal was the 100th of his NHL career.
It's been a frustrating season for Niederreiter, who sustained a high ankle sprain in the third game of the regular season and a lower-body injury just before Christmas. The two ailments have cost him 19 games in all.
Still, Niederreiter has been effective when he's been in the lineup. His goal Thursday was his 15th in 38 games as the Swiss winger also boasts a plus-13, best among active players for the Wild and top among forwards (Jonas Brodin is a plus-19).
If he stays healthy the rest of the season, Niederreiter should approach or surpass 20 goals for the fourth consecutive season.
3. Speaking of milestones, Mikko Koivu played in his 900th NHL game on Thursday.
Koivu, the Wild's record holder in nearly every measurable category (games, points, assists, power-play assists and points, short-handed goals, assists and points, shots on goal and faceoffs), also ranks second in career goals, plus/minus, game-winning goals, power-play goals and short-handed goals.
Koivu was selected by the Wild sixth overall in the 2001 NHL Draft. He's the only permanent captain in the team's 17-season history.
Related:
- Watch: Dubnyk shuts down redirection - Watch: Boudreau on Koivu's 900 games