The Red Wings won’t have long to savor their impressive win at the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon as the teams will play the second game of a home-and-home set Sunday afternoon in Detroit.
The Red Wings jumped out to a 4-0 second-period lead before holding on for a 5-2 win, their third in their past four games.
“Get home, get some rest and then right back at it,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “Quick two-game series. We know they’re gonna be better and we have to take it up a notch as well, but right now we’ll worry about tomorrow when it arrives.”
It will be hard for Detroit to improve on their start. They outshot Washington 17-6 and led 1-0 after one period before adding three more goals in the second.
Moritz Seider had a goal and an assist and Andrew Copp and Simon Edvinsson each had two assists for the Red Wings. John Leonard, James van Riemsdyk and Elmer Soderblom also scored before Dylan Larkin added an empty-netter. John Gibson made 24 saves.
Leonard, who was recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Dec. 15, scored his first goal of the season. His younger brother, 20-year-old Ryan, plays forward for Washington but is day-to-day with facial and shoulder injuries.
The elder Leonard has played 73 NHL games over parts of five seasons. The forward was signed by the Red Wings last summer after a stellar season for Charlotte in the East Coast Hockey League.
He gave Detroit a quick 1-0 lead Saturday when he knocked in a rebound at 1:05 of the first period.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be here, whether it’s one more game or whatever the case may be, obviously I don’t know,” said Leonard, 27. “But like I said, day by day and try to make the most of it and work as hard as I can.”
The Capitals were coming off a 4-0 shutout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, but that did not carry over.
“I think simply put, just our start,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said of the difference from Thursday. “Just weren’t able to get through the neutral zone, weren’t able to do enough things forecheck-wise, lost momentum early in the hockey game.”
Aliaksei Protas and Martin Fehervary scored for the Capitals, who have lost four of five (1-3-1). Logan Thompson made 36 saves. Protas scored in his second straight game and has 12 goals on the season.
The Capitals rallied to within 4-2 and had a third goal disallowed by goaltender interference. That short-circuited their momentum.
Sunday provides an opportunity for a quick bounce-back.
“When you play the same team the next day, you’re kind of aware what you’re up against and right back to work tomorrow in their building,” Protas said. “Got to give (it) back to them, for sure.”
Washington goalie Charlie Lindgren will oppose Cam Talbot in the rematch. Lindgren is 5-3-0 with a 3.35 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in his career versus Detroit. Talbot is 5-10-1 with a 2.85 GAA and .902 save percentage against Washington.
–Field Level Media
