Fresh off a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and their captain returning (and scoring), the Capitals are back in action a mere 22 hours later.
Today’s game comes against the Detroit Red Wings who recently canned their coach and is tied for last in the Atlantic Division. Struggling to take the next step forward as an organization, GM Steve Yzerman got sarcastic with the media after speaking about the team’s new head coach hire, Todd McLellan.
The Red Wings come into today’s matchup led in goals (14) and points (34) by 22-year-old Swede Lucas Raymond, who is trying to build upon his 31-goal and 72-point effort last season.
The Capitals will see Lars Eller return to the lineup Sunday after being activated from the injured list. Hendrix Lapierre, who never seemed to get going this season, was sent down to the AHL’s Hershey Bears to accommodate the Danish centerman back on the roster. Charlie Lindgren will face Alex Lyon in net.
The Capitals-Red Wings game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Alan May have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 5:00 pm. Craig Laughlin is expected to return to the booth on Tuesday.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Detroit Red Wings
Tunnel Shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Detroit is coming out desperate early.
Lucas Raymond misses on a layup after Alex Ovechkin loses him in coverage driving the net.
🚨 1-0 Detroit Red Wings. DET Goal: Ben Chiarot (2). Assists: M. Seider (16). Time: 03:19.
Chiarot’s point shot finds paydirt through a maze of players in front of the net.
Lars Eller gets whistled for high-sticking Patrick Kane at 5:33. Caps struggling mightily with the Red Wings’ skating and speed.
🚨 2-0 Detroit Red Wings. DET PPG: Patrick Kane (6). Assists: E. Gustafsson (6), L. Raymond (21). Time: 06:44.
Marco Kasper sprung on a breakaway right as the power play ends. Huge, huge save by Charlie Lindgren.
🚨 2-1 Detroit Red Wings. DET Goal: Alex Ovechkin (17). Assists: J. Chychrun (14), C. McMichael (14). Time: 12:04.
Alex Ovechkin career goal no. 870. He has 17 goals in 20 games this season. He’s a man (or machine) possessed!
🚨 3-1 Detroit Red Wings. DET Goal: Alex DeBrincat (14). Assists: P. Kane (10). Time: 12:04.
In front of the net, Debrincat answers 31 seconds later. This marks Kane’s 1,300th point in the NHL.
🚨 4-1 Detroit Red Wings. DET Goal: Lucas Raymond (14). Assists: D. Larkin (16), J. Veleno (3). Time: 14:18.
Detroit has four goals on their first 10 shots on goal. Caps are really struggling to defend tired from last night.
Caps and Red Wings go to four-on-four after Strome and Raymond are whistled for roughing.
Brandon Duhaime whistled at the end of the period for unsportsmanlike conduct. Strome with a sarcastic look, Ovi is screaming at the officials as he skates off the ice.
At intermission: WOOF. You get no stats, just woof.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped. Red Wings start on the power play.
Capitals go to the power play 3:13 into the period due to a delay of game penalty by Simon Edvinsson. The Red Wings’ penalty kill is a terrible 58 percent at home.
Alex Ovechkin changes his stick after his first shot is stopped on the power play.
Dylan Larkin nearly scores on a two-on-one while shorthanded.
Capitals back to the power play a few minutes later after Justin Holl cross-checks Brandon Duhaime at 8:35.
Capitals negate the final 19 seconds of their power play after having too many men on the ice. The Red Wings will have a 1:41 long power play.
Andrew Mangiapane with a terrible turnover in the defensive zone. Caps lucky it doesn’t end up in the back of their net.
Capitals showing some signs of life at the end of this second period. Urgency has arrived.
At intermission: It’s still 4-1.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Aliaksei Protas grimacing after he and Tom Wilson checked Jeff Petry behind the goal.
Ovechkin furious with himself at the bench after one of his chances was stopped.
🚨 4-2 Detroit Red Wings. WSH Goal: Nic Dowd (10). Unassisted. Time: 10:27.
Nic Dowd battling in the paint, somehow finds a loose puck at the far post and shovels it in. Can the Caps comeback with 9:33 remaining?
Huge save by Lyon on Fehervary with a little under five minutes to left. Fehervary had pinched down into the right circle and Lyon was out of position in net, sliding over to make the save.
Lindgren stops a Michael Rasmussen breakaway.
Charlie Lindgren pulled.
Taylor Raddysh had a wide open rebound for a goal but he’s cross-checked to the ice by Simon Edvinsson. Capitals to the power play with 1:28 remaining.
Timeout Washington. They’ll have six skaters on the ice against 4 penalty killers. The Red Wings can take pot shots at the goal without icing the puck since they’re killing a penalty.
Ovechkin has multiple shots blocked.
Chychrun loses the puck. Red Wings miss the empty net.
Capitals lose 4-2. The Capitals outshot the Red Wings 28 to 27 and out-attempted Detroit 50 to 37 at five-on-five. This is Detroit’s seventh win in their last 21 games.
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