The Washington Capitals went three-for-three in the shootout and won their first game of the season that reached the skills competition, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 at Little Caesars Arena. The victory allowed the Capitals to end their ugly six-game road trip with a slightly less unsightly record of 2-3-1.
The game-deciding goal came down to, of all people, Nic Dowd, who shot third for the Capitals. After Dylan Larkin‘s shot banged off the crossbar and out, the Capitals’ checking-line center did his best Evgeny Kuznetsov impression, scoring on the Kuzy Crawl.
Dowd was mobbed by his teammates as Charlie Lindgren, who had gotten hurt at the tail end of the third period and overtime, was literally carried off the ice by John Carlson and Justin Sourdif.
“That was good,” Dowd said. “I was pretty nervous. I didn’t want Chuckie to take another [attempt].”
The goal marked Dowd’s first career shootout goal with the Capitals and his first attempt with the team. He had watched from the bench in 43 prior skills competitions.
“We worked on it in practice,” Dylan Strome said. “He has a move that he likes.”
“That was my second (career attempt). My other one came 10 years ago in my second game of my career in Winnipeg,” Dowd added, remembering back to his days as a rookie with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2015-16 season. “I blasted it over the net and we lost.”
Not only did Dowd find paydirt in the shootout, but he also scored the Capitals’ first goal of the game after a big hit on Ben Chariot.
Taking a pass from Connor McMichael, he would double pump and score from the left circle.
Dowd earned praise from Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery during his post-game victory speech.
“This guy started it for us on his first f***ing forecheck,” Carbery said. “First f***ing shift. Nic Dowd was f***ing unbelievable tonight.”
Coming into Thursday’s game, the Capitals had lost their previous five games decided in a shootout this season. Their previous performances were so putrid that Carbery considered pulling their goaltender in overtime. Tonight’s victory marked the first time all three of the team’s shooters scored this season and the first time the Capitals have done it as a team since 2014.
“If we’re something, at least we’re a little exciting,” Strome said smiling.
Dowd dialing up Kuzy’s slo-mo approach was wise. Among players who have shot more than 50 times, Kuznetsov has the highest shootout scoring percentage in Capitals franchise history at 44.6 percent, hitting the back of the net on 29 of his 65 attempts.
The other Capitals to score tonight in the skills session against the Red Wings included Dylan Strome, who beat John Gibson with a fake shot and backhand move, and Ryan Leonard, skating laterally across the ice before finding some room at the far post.
The Capitals’ next game will be Saturday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
