Caps Turn the Tables on Kings With 5-0 Shutout in Nation's Capital

The Los Angeles Kings had the tables turned on them in the Nation's capital on Super Bowl Sunday.

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals snapped the Kings five-game winning streak and back-to-back shutouts with a shutout of their own, 5-0, at the Verizon Center on Sunday afternoon.

Caps backup goalie Philipp Grubauer got the start and made a season-high 38 saves for a shutout of his own against opposing goalie, Peter Budaj, who leads the NHL in shutouts this season with seven.

Despite being outshot 38-20, the Capitals were opportunistic in shelling Budaj, limiting quality chances and relying on Grubauer to make the routine saves.

"He doesn't get in there all the time, but when he does he's just been really good," said Brett Connolly, who scored his 10th goal of the season. "There was a couple times we turned the puck over and they had a good chance in front and he was there to bail us out."

Grubauer denied Marian Gaborik from close range in the second period but didn't have to make too many 10-bell saves for his third shutout of the season. Coach Barry Trotz liked the team defense in front of Grubauer, who compared the new NHL-mandated slimmer goalie pants to "European skinny jeans."

"The guys did an amazing job keeping (shots) to the outside today," Grubauer said. "I don't think we gave up too many Grade-A chances."

The Kings did.

They left Lars Eller, Marcus Johansson and Justin Williams wide open on their goals, and Connolly was in all alone on a semi-breakaway to score his. T.J. Oshie's goal popped the cap off Budaj's water bottle, sending water flying and adding insult to injury.

Williams, a former King who was part of the Kings two Stanley Cup victories in three years, including winning the Conn Smythe Trophy for the NHL Playoffs MVP with L.A. in 2014, scored the game's final goal in the waning minutes of the third period. 

FIF! @JustinWilliams #CapsKings pic.twitter.com/ZnHfgagnzb — Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 5, 2017

Budaj, who leads the NHL with seven shutouts, was pulled after allowing four goals on 15 shots in two periods. He had stopped all 39 shots in his past two starts, but this loss was more on the Kings' defensive miscues than their goaltender.

"When you don't manage the puck well and give them opportunities to score, they're going to score," defenseman Jake Muzzin said. "You give them a little space and they capitalize on that. That's the danger, and we gave them too much space."

Coach Darryl Sutter said no one wants to get into an All-Star Game against the Capitals because the Kings are "not in that class." When the Capitals are getting this kind of goaltending and depth of scoring, few teams in the league are.

Washington leads the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference by seven points and is five up on the Minnesota Wild in the Presidents' Trophy race that also comes with home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Trotz said the team isn't thinking about the standings but is focused on each game.

Good thing for the Capitals that with Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby and Grubauer, they have a goalie they can turn to each game who can steal points if needed.

"Both goalies are tremendous," captain Alex Ovechkin said. "I think we have best duo in the league. When Holts have a break, Grubi stepping up and show he can be tremendous as well."

The Kings may have been victims of a tough stretch on their schedule as they traveled from Los Angeles to Philadelphia on Friday, squared off with the Flyers on Saturday afternoon, and then traveled to Washington D.C. for a rare 9AM PST start against the Capitals. 

L.A. surrendered two goals early in the first period on plays that were more defensive lapses, rather than great stick work by the Capitals. Early on, the two-time Stanley Cup winning Kings appeared to be sleepwalking through the first period as they hit the snooze button for the remainder of the game.

The LA Kings are still undefeated since the All-Star break. #AlternativeFacts — #LAKings (@LAKings) February 5, 2017

UP NEXT

Kings: Travel to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday in their third stop on a four-game road trip.

Capitals: Look to make it four in a row when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, the teams' second meeting in just over two weeks.