CAPITALS 3, WILD 0: Red-hot Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist as host Washington climbed into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Braden Holtby turned aside 28 shots for his first shutout of the season and third of his career as the Capitals won for only the second time in six games (2-2-2).

Jason Chimera and Mathieu Perreault also scored goals for Washington, which pulled into a tie with Buffalo for the final playoff spot two days after blowing a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 home loss to Winnipeg.

Ovechkin has scored seven goals during a four-game streak and notched nine tallies in the last seven games to give him 36 for the season.

Minnesota, which owned the best record in the league in early December, was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs with the loss.

Chimera provided the only goal the Capitals would need midway through the second period, finishing off a 2-on-1 by tapping in Alexander Semin's pass at the left post for his 19th goal.

Washington doubled the lead five minutes later on a near-identical goal while on the power play. Perrault, charging the net, directed Troy Brouwer's feed past Matt Hackett.

Ovechkin sealed it when he whistled a shot past Hackett from just inside the left faceoff circle 8 1/2 minutes into the third period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Holtby, who was making his fourth start of the season, went 6-0-0 in March 2011, recording both of his shutouts. ... Hackett, who was recalled from Houston of the AHL due to Niklas Backstrom's injury, lost his fourth straight start and fell to 1-6-0 this month. ... The home team has won 10 of the last 11 meetings in the series.