Wild edge Capitals, move into wild card

Luke Kunin scored the go-ahead goal with 7:35 left, Devan Dubnyk made 21 saves and the Minnesota Wild moved into playoff position by beating the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Friday night in Washington.

Jordan Greenway also scored for Minnesota, which snapped a two-game skid and leapfrogged the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche to move into the second wild-card spot in a competitive Western Conference race. Ryan Donato assisted on the goals by Kunin and Greenway and was the Wild’s best forward in a game dominated by that second line.

Dubnyk did not have to make too many high-danger saves, but was dependable in Minnesota’s net. A sliding pad save on a one-timer by John Carlson on a Capitals power play in the second period was his most impressive stop.

Brett Connolly scored his 21st goal of the season and Braden Holtby made 25 saves for Washington, which has lost four of six. The defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals missed an opportunity to add to their lead atop the Metropolitan Division and still lead the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins by four points.

CAPITALS’ KEMPNY OUT INDEFINITELY: Washington lost top-four defenseman Michal Kempny to an injury. Coach Todd Reirden said Kempny is out indefinitely with a lowerbody injury. Kempny appeared to injure his left leg in an overtime loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday, when he needed helped getting to the locker room. Kempny has six goals and 19 assists and averages 19:11 of ice time in 71 games.