Mikko Koivu scored a power-play goal and Chuck Kobasew also tallied as the Minnesota Wild posted a 2-1 triumph over the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Niklas Backstrom made 21 saves for the Wild, who snapped a two-game skid and improved to 1-0-1 on their season-high five-game homestand.

Kobasew opened the scoring at 7:48 of the first period, beating Michal Neuvirth with a wrist shot for his first goal of the season. Andrew Brunette and Clayton Stoner notched assists.

Koivu doubled the lead on the power play late in the second. With Washington defenseman Karl Alzner serving a hooking penalty, Koivu snapped the puck past Neuvirth with 16 seconds left in the session for his third of the season and a 2-0 bulge.

Alex Ovechkin spoiled Backstrom's shutout bid, ripping a shot from the inner edge of the right faceoff circle past the netminder with 96 seconds remaining in the third. The tally snapped Ovechkin's five-game goalless drought.

Neuvirth stopped 15 shots for the Capitals, who fell to 0-5-1 all-time at Xcel Energy Center.