RAPID RECAP: Ovechkin & Strome Shine, Capitals Cruise Past Wild

The Capitals dominated early and often to beat the Minnesota Wild, 5-1.

WASHINGTON — As Alex Ovechkin found twine for the first time this season, a weight seemed to lift off his and the Washington Capitals’ shoulders.

After using these first few games to find their footing while pulling off tight wins, the Capitals busted out and dominated the Minnesota Wild on Friday, curising to a 5-1 win.

Dylan Strome opened the scoring in the first when he buried a feed to the front from Ovechkin. Then, in the second, after Marcus Johansson evened the score for the Wild, Aliaksei Protas’ pass to Connor McMichael ended up being Filip Gustavsson on its own to restore the lead.

Washington then build on things with a tremendous third period, as Ovechkin fired home a shot off the face-off for his first of the year and the 898th goal of his career. Minutes later, Strome picked up his third point of the night, cashing in on his own rebound.

Tom Wilson added one more goal for good measure, tipping home a power-play goal for the 5-1 victory.

The Capitals dominated 44-15 in shots on goal while keeping the Wild at bay.

On special teams, the penalty kill came up big going 2-for-2, but the power play continues to need work, as it took five attempts to get on the board.