Dmitry Orlov scored with 6:32 left in the third period, Braden Holtby made 33 saves and the Washington Capitals edged the Edmonton Oilers, 1-0, on Monday night.
Tom Wilson started the winning play by coming up with a puck in the right corner. He quickly sent it across the ice to Orlov, who let it bounce off the half wall before he fired a high slap shot past goalie Anders Nilsson from the left circle.
Brooks Laich also got an assist as the Capitals won their second consecutive game. Washington increased the pressure on offense in the third period, registering 15 of its 30 shots after Edmonton had kept the Capitals quiet before that.
Holtby made a number of tough stops on a night when Washington needed some help because its offense wasn’t as effective as usual. He came up with several good glove saves that frustrated the Oilers.
Nilsson finished with 29 saves and turned in a second consecutive strong performance. He made 19 saves in last Friday’s 5-1 victory at the New Jersey Devils that started Edmonton’s five-game Eastern Conference swing.
This game was much different from the one played on Oct. 23 in Edmonton when the Capitals earned a 7-4 victory. There wasn’t nearly as much offense, as both teams got better performances on defense and in goal.
In fact, neither team could generate much offense in the first two periods, and Edmonton came up empty on lengthy power play. Washington center Nicklas Backstrom received a double-minor for high-sticking midway through the second period, but the Oilers could not score on their four shots.
Both teams missed on breakaways about eight minutes into the third before Holtby robbed Edmonton defenseman Eric Gryba on a quick glove save with 11:46 left.
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