Minnesota @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 13, 2018 ) Washington 5, Minnesota 2

The Minnesota Wild are desperate for victories with eight games left in their quest for a Western Conference wild-card spot, and they won’t come easy with each one of the contests remaining against a team currently holding down a playoff spot. The Wild begin a stretch of four road games in five outings Friday night when they visit the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals.

Minnesota is one point behind both Arizona and Colorado for the second wild card after losing five of the last six games (1-4-1) and scoring a total of six goals in those defeats following Tuesday’s 3-1 setback against Colorado at home. “At this point in the season, effort is not enough,” Wild center Eric Fehr told reporters. “We need to find ways to win games, and we’re trying but so is the other team. We have to find a way to score goals. That’s what it comes down to. Defensively, we’ve been pretty tight. But you’re not going to win in this league scoring one or zero goals.” The Capitals, who boast an eight-game win streak over Minnesota following a 5-2 triumph on Nov. 13, have scored 16 times while going 2-1-1 in the last four games after a 5-4 overtime loss to NHL-best Tampa Bay on Wednesday and is three points up on the second-place New York Islanders in the division. Washington captain Alex Ovechkin leads the league with 48 goals, leaving him two shy of his eighth season with at least 50, and has registered a point in five straight contests to push his team-best total to 83.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, TVA; FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE WILD (34-31-9): Left wing Zach Parise has scored in back-to-back games and tops the team with 58 points while veteran center Eric Staal has moved within one of his 13th season with at least 50 points. Forward Ryan Donato continues to make an impact since being acquired from Boston, recording two goals and two assists in his last three games to give him 13 points and a plus-3 rating in 14 contests with Minnesota. Goalie Devan Dubnyk went 6-0-1 during a stretch in late February and early March, but has lost four of his last five games since with a .901 save percentage.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (43-23-8): Washington’s top-four defenseman Michal Kempny suffered a lower-body injury Wednesday and coach Todd Reirden told reporters: “I think at this point it’s safe to say he’s going to miss some time.” Center Evgeny Kuznetsov tied the game late in regulation Wednesday and has three goals along with two assists in the last four games to tie defenseman John Carlson (398 career points) for third on the team with 65 points. Goalie Braden Holtby allowed 15 goals in his last four contests (1-2-1) after stringing together five straight victories.

OVERTIME

1. The Capitals had killed off 28-of-30 power plays over a nine-game stretch before giving up three on three tries Wednesday.

2. Minnesota D Jared Spurgeon has scored a career-high 14 goals and is one assist from matching his career best of 28 set in each of the last two seasons.

3. Washington LW Carl Hagelin has recorded multiple points in two of his last four games after not doing so in his first 47 outings of the season.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Wild 2