Boldy scores in shootout to lift Wild past Capitals after Ovechkin gets No. 871

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marco Rossi tied it in the third period, Matt Boldy scored the shootout winner and the Minnesota Wild rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Thursday night after Alex Ovechkin moved one step closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record.

Rossi scored with 8:41 left in regulation, 15 seconds after a would-be goal by Washington's Tom Wilson was disallowed for directing the puck into the net with a high stick. Boldy had the lone shootout goal.

The Wild won their first game without injured captain Jared Spurgeon, who is expected to miss 2-3 weeks after getting slew-footed earlier in the week. Yakov Trenin scored short-handed, Ryan Hartman had his first goal since Nov. 19 and Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves in regulation and overtime to help Minnesota improve to 3-1 without leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov.

Ovechkin beat Fleury for his 871st career goal, scoring on him for a 28th time in 47 games against him over the past two decades in the NHL. Wilson and Martin Fehervary had the other goals for the Capitals, while Lindgren made 30 saves but misplayed the puck to allow Trenin to score.

Wild: No Spurgeon, no Kaprizov, no problem. As coach John Hynes said earlier in the day, it's about finding a way to win even with important players out, and his team has figured out how to do that.

Capitals: They played a solid game but did not handle the wave of momentum well from Wilson's goal being waved off to Rossi scoring immediately after.

Fleury turned aside Ovechkin in the shootout to end his final game at Washington on a high note.

The Capitals had their first shootout of the season in their 38th game.

The Capitals host the New York Rangers on Saturday, while the Wild are at Carolina that night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) scores a goal past Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) battles for the puck against Minnesota Wild center Devin Shore (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) stops the puck in his jersey during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Wild defenseman Jon Merrill (4) and Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) battle in front of the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck as Minnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm (47) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Wild center Yakov Trenin (13) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

ATLANTA (AP) — AJ Smith-Shawver is breaking out as an emerging force in the Atlanta Braves' rotation.

That rotation soon will receive another boost, as Spencer Strider is ready to come off the injured list.

After Smith-Shawver allowed only two hits and no earned runs in six innings in the Braves' 5-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday, manager Brian Snitker said Strider would return to the rotation when Atlanta plays at Washington next week.

“We're not sure which game,” Snitker said.

Snitker didn't say how the Braves would create a spot for Strider, who threw a five-inning simulated game at Truist Park on Wednesday. The right-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 21 after straining his right hamstring.

The hamstring injury came after Strider had completed his comeback from UCL internal brace surgery on his right elbow on April 12, 2024. He was an All-Star in 2023, when he finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting after going 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and a major league-best 281 strikeouts.

Strider pitched five innings in a 3-1 loss at Toronto on April 16 in his first game back from the surgery. Then his comeback was put on hold, thanks to the hamstring injury.

Smith-Shawver, 22, has been dominant since his recall from Triple-A Gwinnett on April 29. Though it's not clear how the Braves will make room for Strider, Smith-Shawver has made a strong case that he ranks as one of the team's top starters.

“For me, it's really just been trusting my stuff,” Smith-Shawver said Thursday.

“I don't know if it's more belief or just getting more comfortable with more reps.”

Smith-Shawver (3-2) has allowed one earned run in 19 2/3 innings over his last three starts, leaving his ERA at 2.33. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 4-0 win over Cincinnati on May 5. Snitker said Thursday's start, which included six strikeouts, “might have been better.”

“Very impressive right there,” Snitker said. “He came out of the shoot firing, boy.”

Smith-Shawver has won his last three decisions and is a big reason the Braves (22-22) returned to .500 for the second time in three days after losing their first seven games to open the season.

The rotation has also included 2024 NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder. Following Thursday's game, Elder was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Right-hander Reynaldo López was shut down for 12 weeks last month following surgery on his inflamed right shoulder but could return in the second half of the season.

Snitker said a six-man rotation is “not feasible” when the team has off days.

Smith-Shawver says he knows the team could face a surplus of starting pitchers.

“Those decisions are always tough,” he said, adding he's just focusing on each opportunity.

“When they tell you to throw the ball, you throw the ball and enjoy it.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker stands in the dugout before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)