Capitals 4, Jets 0
WINNIPEG -- Braden Holtby continues to be a wall in Winnipeg.
The Washington goaltender made 19 saves and pitched his second shutout in as many trips to the MTS Centre this season as the Capitals earned a 4-0 win over the Jets on Thursday night.
The Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, product is at home on the Canadian prairies, as he bested host Winnipeg just 19 days prior, turning aside all 35 shots he faced in a 3-0 Capitals victory.
Thursday's triumph brought the Capitals (13-16-1) within seven points of the Southeast Division-leading Jets (16-13-2) while holding a game in hand. The Capitals had won just two of their last seven games heading into the contest. Winnipeg, meanwhile, had won six of eight before Thursday's loss.
Washington took control of the game early, pinning the Jets in their own zone and forcing numerous turnovers when there.
Troy Brouwer opened the scoring just 3:06 into the game when his quick shot beat teammate Brooks Laich's screen, as well as Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec. The goal was Brouwer's 11th of the season.
Marcus Johansson made it 2-0 later in the frame when he redirected a feed from Ovechkin past Pavelec for his fourth of the campaign at 16:22.
Ovechkin, Washington's captain, put the game out of reach late in the third by putting home his team-leading 13th tally of the year on a one-timer from Nicklas Backstrom on a power play with 5:54 remaining. The pair connected again 4:16 later as Backstrom's one-timer from Ovechkin dribbled between Pavelec's left foot and the goalpost.
Winnipeg's power play, which showed signs of life by converting three of 13 opportunities in its previous five games, struggled Thursday, failing to score in three opportunities, including two in the third period.
Pavelec finished with 21 saves while making his eighth start in a row for Winnipeg.
In a scheduling quirk, the teams will meet again Friday night in Winnipeg before wrapping up the season series in Washington on April 23.
NOTES: The back-to-back matchups between the Jets and Capitals on Thursday and Friday hearken back to the MTS Centre's American Hockey League days, as the Manitoba Moose would often host opponents on back-to-back nights. Playing two games in two nights in the same city is a first for both franchises. ... Tuesday night's 3-1 win over Boston marked the first time Winnipeg won a game when trailing after two periods, improving its mark in such games to 1-7-0. ... Ovechkin has lit up the Winnipeg/Atlanta franchise in his career with 71 points (34 goals and 37 assists) in 50 games, his highest total against any team. ... Washington defenseman Mike Green returned to the Capitals lineup after missing the past 10 games with a groin injury. ... Thursday's game was the second of a season-long four-game road trip for Washington, which lost 2-1 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and will wrap the jaunt in New York against the Rangers on Sunday. ... Thursday's game was also the second of a four-game homestand for Winnipeg, which will head on the road for a pair after hosting Tampa Bay on Sunday.
