Capitals 1, Oilers 0
WASHINGTON -- Washington goalie Braden Holtby stopped 33 shots and defenseman Dmitry Orlov scored the game's only goal with 6:32 left as the Capitals blanked the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 on Monday night.
Washington broke the scoreless tie when right winger Tom Wilson sent the puck across the ice in the Edmonton zone. The puck came off the boards to Orlov in the right circle and he one-timed a blast over goalie Anders Nilsson's left shoulder for his second goal in two games.
At 8:14 of the third period, Holtby kept it scoreless when he robbed defenseman Eric Gryba with a sprawling glove save during a two-on-one break. A minute later he denied left winger Taylor Hall alone in front.
It was Holtby's first shutout of the season, and the 21st of his career.
Washington (14-5-1) is 4-1-1 in its last six contests
The Oilers (7-13-1), tied for last place in the Western Conference points race coming in, were beginning a five-game road trip. They've lost four of five.
Nilsson finished with 29 saves.
Monday night's contest was a stark contrast from the teams' first meeting, a 7-4 Capitals win in October at Edmonton.
The Oilers outshot Washington 23-15 over a scoreless first 40 minutes.
Washington center Nicklas Backstrom earned a double minor when his high stick to the face of Edmonton Oscar Klefbom sent the defenseman to the ice midway through the second period.
The Oilers had several solid chances during the ensuing power play, the best coming when Holtby made a nice glove save on right winger Jordan Eberle in the slot.
Washington came up empty on a pair of power-play opportunities over the first two periods.
Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov took a feed alone in the slot against Nilsson in the first period, but looked to pass instead of shooting and the play was broken up.
NOTES: Capitals D Brooks Orpik (lower body injury) missed his sixth straight game. ... Washington LW Andre Burakovsky was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. ... Edmonton C Anton Lander was a healthy scratch, with Lauri Korpikoski taking his spot on the fourth line. D Griffin Reinhart and Andrew Ference were also scratched. ... Oilers LW Luke Gazdic (undisclosed illness) and D Andrej Sekera (flu) returned after missing one game. ... The Capitals rank second in the NHL in shots against per game (25.6) and sixth in goals against per game (2.32).