What we learned from the Ducks’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Capitals

The Ducks and Washington Capitals are set to play in the regular-season finale on April 10, and it might take that long to digest their first meeting, a 2-1 shootout win by Washington at Honda Center on Monday.

Goalies John Gibson and Braden Holtby dueled. Ryan Kesler’s line handled its stiffest test yet, and there wasn’t much else that separated the NHL’s hottest team, the Ducks, from the league’s best team, the Capitals.

Here’s what we learned:

Holtby was as good as advertised: Holtby flashed his credentials in the first period with a stop on Sami Vatanen. He was remarkable in the shootout, with glove grabs of David Perron and Jakob Silfverberg, who has the best shootout efficiency rating in NHL history among players with a minimum 15 attempts.

Holtby won his league-leading 41st game.

“I thought he was exceptional in the shootout,” Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said of Holtby. “Those are two really great saves that he made. They weren’t just pucks that just hit him.”

Kesler and his line continued their dirty work: Washington star Alex Ovechkin did not register a shot until nearly five minutes into the third period, and the top line of Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie was held scoreless.

Kesler also induced Ovechkin into a tripping penalty in the opening minute that resulted in the Ducks’ first goal.

“They’re good players, but I play the same way every night,” Kesler said. “I try to outwork the opposition. I thought my line did a good job against them tonight.”

Cam Fowler might be hindered by his face shield: Fowler wore one following a hit to the nose from the Kings’ Tanner Pearson on March 5, and it might limit his vision, as players often say.

Fowler made an egregious giveaway late in the third period that allowed Washington’s Mike Richards to break in on Gibson, with the score 1-1.

Fowler could ask tips from Ryan Getzlaf, who recently wore a face shield for a few games.

Follow Curtiz Zupke on Twitter @CurtisZupke