Photo: Twitter/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals fell to the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 Tuesday night at Capital One Arena. Tom Wilson had the lone goal for the Capitals. The loss is the fifth-consecutive defeat for Washington and drops their record to 28-25-6 (62 points) on the season.
Darcy Kuemper (16-17-0-4, 2.67 GAA, .914 sv%) got the start in goal for the Capitals. Ville Husso (21-13-0-5, 2.95 GAA, .904 sv%)got the start between the pipes for the Red Wings. The Capitals starting forward lines and defensive pairs:
Sonny Milano — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson
Anthony Mantha — Dylan Strome — T.J. Oshie
Conor Sheary — Nicklas Backstrom — Marcus Johansson
Lars Eller — Nic Dowd — Garnet Hathaway
Dmitry Orlov — Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary — Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson – Dylan McIlrath
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Extras: Nicolas Aube-Kubrick, Alexander Alexeyev, Matt Irwin
FIRST PERIOD
The Red Wings struck first with a goal from Robert Hagg (1) at 10:16 of the first period. Tyler Bertuzzi (10) and Olli Maatta (13) had the helpers.
Robert Hagg gets the boys going. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/WqTilz1wgl
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 22, 2023
The Capitals were awarded a five-minute power play after Dylan Larkin cross-checked T.J, Oshie to the head, which earned Larkin a game misconduct. Unfortunately, the Red Wings would add a shorthanded tally from Pius Suter (10) at 14:57, the 5th shorthanded tally against the Capitals this season, making it 2-0.
A 5 minute penalty kill? No problem for Pius Suter. 🤷
pic.twitter.com/LBVLX2Aoq0— Alexander Johnson (@AJohnsonSports) February 22, 2023
The Capitals finally got on the board with a power play goal from Tom Wilson during the remaining Larkin power play time, to make it 2-1.
Tom Wilson gets a piece of a Erik Gustafsson shot and the Caps are on the board! 🦅 pic.twitter.com/1QZcyWHrhQ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 22, 2023
And that was it for the first period.
Orlov welcomes his old teammate back to DC 💥 pic.twitter.com/D9Bxwx7GLi
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 22, 2023
The Wings took control of the possession at the 6 min mark. They led in five-on-five shot attempts, 17-10, scoring chances, 6-3 and xGF .79 to .26. Faceoffs were even.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals and Red Wings skated to a scoreless draw in the middle frame.
Anthony Mantha left the game with an upper body injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
INJURY UPDATE: #Caps Anthony Mantha sustained an upper body injury and will not return to tonight’s game.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 22, 2023
The Capitals did a better job at generating five-on-five shot attempts in the middle frame – tied 14-14. Scoring chances tied 6-6. The Wings led in high-danger chances, 5-1, and xGF 1.39 to .56.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals mounted a surge to start the final frame, but a turnover by Evgeny Kuznetsov in the Capitals zone led to the Red Wings third goal. Pius Suter (11) notched the tally at 6:24 of the final stanza. The goal was unassisted.
Nobody can stop Pius Suter right now#LGRW
pic.twitter.com/mZcM4z7HCF— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) February 22, 2023
And that was it. Red Wings take it, 3-1.
The Capitals are back in action on Thursday when they host the Anaheim Ducks at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7PM.
SHAVINGS
- The 4th game without Alex Ovechkin.
- Tom Wilson cut the Capitals’ deficit to 2-1 with his fourth goal of the season. It marks Wilson’s second-straight game with a goal.
- Erik Gustafsson recorded the primary assist on Wilson’s goal, his 27th assist of the season. Gustafsson’s nine power-play assists rank tied for third on the team (Evgeny Kuznetsov: 12; Dylan Strome: 11; Marcus Johansson: 9).
- Nicklas Backstrom recorded the secondary assist on Wilson’s goal, his fifth assist of the season. Four (3g, 1a) of Backstrom’s eight points this season have come on the power play.