Thompson makes 32 saves, Capitals hold off Flames

CALGARY -- Logan Thompson made 32 saves to help the Washington Capitals to a 3-1 win against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.

Thompson, who signed a six-year, $35.1 million contract ($5.85 million average annual value) with Washington on Monday, has won six straight games, 11 straight starts and is 15-1-2 with a 1.74 goals-against average and .935 save percentage since Nov. 25.

"I feel good right now," said Thompson, who is from Calgary. "I think my body's held up all year. I've been feeling pretty good every game. I think that's a lot of credit, too, to our team. They make my life easy on a regular basis. Even if we're giving up a lot of shots I'm able to see it, and I'm a big believer in if I can see it I can stop it."

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas scored for the Capitals (34-11-5), who have won seven of eight and allowed two goals or fewer in each.

"That just speaks to our group in the dressing room and our coaching staff and systems," Thompson said. "When we stick to our systems we don't give up a lot and we're making teams earn what they get."

Blake Coleman scored, and Dustin Wolf made 20 saves for the Flames (24-18-7), who have lost two straight following a three-game winning streak.

"I thought it was a pretty good game," Coleman said. "Honestly, I felt like we deserved better. Just some critical situations was the difference. I think at 5-on-5, I don't feel like it was even that close who the better team was. We just didn't find ways to put pucks in the net. A few breakdowns and mental mistakes."

Dubois put Washington up 1-0 at 1:51 of the first period with a wrist shot from the hashmarks over Wolf's glove after a turnover into the slot by MacKenzie Weegar.

"I don't know what the stats are but the team that usually scores the first goal gets a pretty big advantage on winning the game," Dubois said. "You want to score first, but there's a lot of hockey left and we did a good job of closing it off."

Coleman tied it 1-1 at 12:17 of the second period when he tipped Tyson Barrie's point shot by Thompson's blocker on a power play created by a Dubois minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Strome gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 15:12. He backhanded a shot by Wolf's glove on a 5-on-3 power play with Coleman in the box for closing his hand on the puck during Calgary's kill of Brayden Pachal's initial minor for hooking.

"Fluke thing," Coleman said. "I catch it with my top hand, which is kind of an uncomfortable spot to be in. Just a little mental mistake, wasn't sure what to do with the puck really. It puts us on a 5-on-3 and they capitalize. Can't give teams with good power plays that opportunity."

Barrie beat Thompson's glove but hit the crossbar with a wrist shot through traffic from the point at 18:20.

Protas shot by Wolf's blocker on a shorthanded breakaway to put Washington up 3-1 at 17:35 of the third period.

"I think we should definitely at least get one point," Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. "I thought we were better 5-on-5. But there's a reason they're at the top of the standings. They find ways to win. It's a great learning experience for us to just create a little bit more."

NOTES: Washington improved to 22-1-1 when leading after two periods and 19-5-3 when scoring first. ... The Capitals have allowed the fewest goals against in the third period (30). ... Washington forward Andrew Mangiapane had one shot and two hits in 13:18 of ice time in his first game back in Calgary since being dealt to Washington on June 27. Mangiapane had 215 points (109 goals, 106 assists) in 417 games in seven seasons with the Flames. ... Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin played his 1,585th NHL game, all with Washington, to pass Mike Modano for the eighth-most games played with one franchise in NHL history and the most with the team that drafted them.