📸 : RMNB
The Washington Capitals played far better on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings than they did the night prior. While the standard was much more in line with expectations, the end result, a 3-2 overtime loss, still lagged.
A standings point was salvaged. Need more goals.
From a pure process perspective, you can’t ask for better five-on-five results. The Capitals ended the game up 69-44 in shot attempts, 31-20 in shots, 35-16 in scoring chances, 19-5 in high-danger chances, and 3.52-1.58 in expected goals. Unfortunately, expected goals are exactly that, “expected,” and the Capitals just aren’t filling up nets right now.
Ethen Frank was the entirety of the Capitals’ offense, scoring both of the team’s goals in the loss. Frank now has six goals and 13 points in 25 games this season, which is a 20-goal, 43-point pace over a full 82-game schedule. Fantastic output from a guy who hasn’t touched the top six.
Charlie Lindgren made 24 stops on 27 shots faced. According to MoneyPuck, he saved 0.72 fewer goals than expected. Cam Talbot was obscenely good for Detroit, saving 1.99 more goals than expected. There’s your difference.
John Carlson recorded his team-leading 21st assist of the season on Frank’s game-tying goal. It marks Carlson’s 590th career assist, passing Ryan Suter (589) for the fifth-most assists by an American-born defenseman in NHL history.
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) December 21, 2025
Just 6:36 of total ice time for Brandon Duhaime in the game. While I believe a lot of that has to do with his linemates, Hendrix Lapierre (7:22) and Ivan Miroshnichenko (8:26), I do feel like his usage is worth keeping an eye on.
Speaking of Miroshnichenko, I thought he was awesome. He recorded one shot on goal, five individual shot attempts, three individual scoring chances, three individual high-danger chances, one hit, and one shot block. Outside of the pure stats, he just seemed like he was all over the offensive zone trying to create offense. The Capitals need more of that.
Two points for Dylan Strome in his first game away from Alex Ovechkin in what feels like multiple years. His first multi-point game since he had three assists against the Montreal Canadiens on November 20.
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