For the second time in as many days, the Washington Capitals faced the Detroit Red Wings. This time they met in Michigan, and this time the Caps didn’t look as listless. Still not good enough.
Ethen Frank had a head of steam to start us off 1-0 Caps. Lucas Raymond enjoyed multiple screens to put a power-play goal on Charlie Lindgren and tie the game. John Leonard (Ryan’s brother, boo, hiss) gave Detroit the lead on a redirect.
In the third, Ethen Frank redeemed the Caps with a casual shot from the high slot. That forced overtime, where Moritz Seider beat Lindgren top-shelf.
Caps lose.
- As Chris noted, this was an odd bit of scheduling. The Caps and Wings rarely do a back-to-back like this. And the last time the Caps lost both was in 1998, when this webpage would have had a scrolling marquee and guestbook.
- After that unpleasant outing on Saturday, I was encouraged by the team’s strong first period. The Caps had nine high-danger chances in the first period – to just one by the Wings. They definitely had the puck more. It’s just that –
- They can’t score. That is, except for 27-year-old Ethen Frank. This is the second two-goal game of Frank’s career. The first came a month and a day ago, in that silly 8-4 win over the Habs.
- Frank’s first goal was the product of his speed, but also of Albert Johansson crashing to the ice. Maybe the former caused the latter too.
- On the other hand, credit to Detroit goalie Cam Talbot for a great performance in the far net.
- I was tickled by the idea of Justin Sourdif lining up with Alex Ovechkin, but it didn’t pan out. Seems like the other lines were all better at generating chances.
- No points for Ovi in the last four games, but he had five shots today.
- Wings winger Elmer Soderblom‘s face exploded when Matt Roy hit a puck into it. I assume it hit his nose, because those things tend to bleed and because I always hope guys don’t lose any teeth, especially a few days before Christmas. I don’t have a visual of the injury, but imagine even more red on the ice than you’d get in a normal Caps-Wings game.
- Ryan Leonard needs to come back. This game would have been an easy win if he could have pulled some brotherly hijinx against John, who scored his second goal of the weekend. Could have been avoided with a simple rug burn, noogie, purple nurple, charlie horse, boston crab, sharpshooter, pedigree, diamond cutter, or burning hammer.
- Hendrix Lapierre made a heroic return to the active roster. Through regulation he played 7:23 in eight shifts. His line with Miroshnichenko, who was great, and Duhaime dominated what little play they had.
soooo are we going to talk about this or? as chaotic as the lines #joebsuitofthenight
Well, that was way better than Saturday, but not a lot.. Maybe I’m spoiled, but I am used to the Caps being more fun than this.
We’re in the middle of the roster freeze, so nothing’s going to happen imminently, but I feel like something is going to happen. The Caps have been a very good team pretty much all season, but when they’ve faltered it’s been because they don’t have elite finishing talent to convert the solid playmaking they already have.
Rangers on Tuesday, then a brief holiday break. With all the sincerity I’ve got left: peace on earth and goodwill toward all.
