There are two moments in Thursday night's game for the Washington Capitals that tell the entire story of their contest with the Minnesota Wild, and they both include the name Nicklas Backstrom.
Nicklas Backstrom, the Wild's starting goaltender, robbed Nicklas Backstrom of the Capitals with two gloves saves, one in the second period and the last one in the third to help preserve the Wild's 2-1 win.
Backstrom of the Wild gloved down a Nicklas Backstrom of the Capitals shot from the low slot early in the second period with the Capitals on a power play to keep the score 1-0 in favor of Minnesota. Then, Backstrom again gloved down Backstrom's shot, this one from the right cirlce, with 5 seconds left to seal the Minnesota win.
The loss dropped the Capitals record at Xcel Energy Center to 0-5-1.
In all, Minnesota's Backstrom made 21 saves, the only blemish an Alex Ovechkin wrist shot from the mid-high slot at 18:24 that spoiled his shutout bid.
The goal, Ovechkin's fifth of the year, was his first since Oct. 13 against the New York Islanders, a span of five games. It was also Ovechkin's first goal of the season on the road.
Washington outshot Minnesota 22-17 for the game including 11-5 in the third period, but were never able to sustain any constant pressure.
One night after what they considered their most complete game of the season against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Capitals got off to a slow start against the Wild.
Just 7:48 into the contest, Chuck Kobasew scored on a one-time pass from Andrew Brunette to give the Wild a 1-0 lead. Kobasew was a step quicker then the Capitals' John Carlson getting to the net and easily put home Brunette's feed.
Washington was outshot 6-4 in the first period, and that didn't get any better in the second.
The Capitals managed just seven shots in the second period with their best scoring chance coming in the first five minutes of the period when Nicklas Backstrom was robbed by the Wilds' Nicklas Backstrom.
Mikko Koivu made it 2-0 with 16 seconds left in the second period with a power play goal. It is the third game in the last four that the Capitals have allowed at least one power play goal after not allowing one in their first six games of the season.
It was also the fourth time this season the Capitals have not scored a goal in the games first two periods.
Mike Green led all Capitals with 30:41 seconds of ice-time in his second back after missing three games with a shoulder injury.