Dupuis sparks Wild

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington coach Bruce Cassidy had a simple explanation for the Capitals' loss to Minnesota.

"They outworked us, plain and simple," Cassidy said after the Wild's 4-3 victory Thursday night.

Pascal Dupuis had a goal and two assists for Minnesota.

"We're showing some good hockey right now," Dupuis said. "We can skate with the top offensive teams, and we showed it tonight."

Minnesota is 2-0-2 in its last four games, with both victories against Washington, which has lost three straight.

"Lately we haven't gotten that lucky bounce, and tonight at the end we made some good plays around the net," Dupuis said. "That's how I got mine, on a lucky bounce."

Dupuis gave the Wild a 4-2 lead when his shot caromed off the stick of Washington's Rick Berry and into the net at 9:52 of the final period.

Andrew Brunette gave Minnesota the lead for good at 3-2 late in the second period with a shot that bounced off goalie Olaf Kolzig's skate.

"We've had our good bounces, and we're not kidding ourselves," Brunette said. "Some of these games we don't deserve to win and we've won, and we've gotten away with it. At the same time, we deserve every bit of it."

The Wild played tough defense and held the Capitals to only 24 shots, two days after Washington had 48 in a loss to San Jose.

"We've won games like this on effort," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "We're still a surprise to some people.

"It was a very good effort by every player. I think it's one of our best games. I know we played games like that this year, but guys were skating, they were good with the puck."

Washington failed to score on its three power-play chances. The Capitals are in a 9-for-78 power-play slump, while the Wild have killed 21 straight penalties.

"Right now, we need the big play on offense and it's not happening," Cassidy said. "It just seems like we can't get over the hump."

Minnesota took a 1-0 lead when Antti Laaksonen scored 53 seconds into the game. The Wild stretched it to 2-0 when Stephane Veilleux put slick moves on both defenseman Brendan Witt and Kolzig to score at 6:30 of the second period.