Overview
- Detroit surged to a 4-0 lead by the second period and closed out a 5-2 win in Washington to open the home-and-home.
- Jakob Chychrun’s would-be goal was overturned for goaltender interference after contact involving Aliaksei Protas and John Gibson, a ruling the Capitals dispute, and they are 0-for-6 on coach’s challenges this season.
- Aliaksei Protas scored for the second straight game to reach 12 goals, and Detroit’s John Leonard netted his first NHL goal.
- Logan Thompson made 36 saves on 40 shots and still graded slightly positive in goals saved above expected, while five-on-five metrics showed Detroit controlling play (3.89–1.82 expected goals).
- Coach Spencer Carbery cited a poor start and has inserted Hendrix Lapierre for Sonny Milano, elevated Justin Sourdif in new combinations, and turned to Lindgren in goal for the back end in Detroit.