The Detroit Red Wings delivered a strong performance against the Washington Capitals, securing a 5-2 victory on Saturday night. Moritz Seider stood out, contributing a goal and an assist, while teammates John Leonard and James van Riemsdyk—brothers to injured Capitals players Ryan Leonard and Trevor van Riemsdyk—joined him on the scoresheet, along with Elmer Soderblom and Dylan Larkin.
This win marks the Red Wings’ third victory in their last four games, helping them maintain their position at the top of the competitive Atlantic Division. Conversely, the Capitals have faced challenges lately, having lost four of their last five games, underscoring a tough stretch for the team.
Detroit showcased dominance right from the start, outshooting the Capitals 17-6 in the first period. Leonard opened the scoring only 1:05 into the game by crashing the net and netting a rebound past Washington goaltender Logan Thompson. The Red Wings continued their offensive pressure in the second period, scoring three goals within a span of just over ten minutes to establish a commanding 4-0 lead.
Van Riemsdyk added to the tally shortly after the period began, capitalizing on a rebound from Seider’s shot. Soderblom followed up soon after, scoring despite being taken down. Seider then netted his fifth goal of the season during a 2-on-0 breakaway.
The Capitals responded with a goal from Aliaksei Protas, who managed to beat John Gibson just moments after Seider’s goal. Washington’s Martin Fehervary later added another goal to narrow the gap to 4-2. However, an attempt to rally was thwarted when a goal from Jakob Chychrun was disallowed due to goaltender interference. Larkin subsequently iced the game with an empty-netter.
Gibson made 24 saves, marking his seventh consecutive win and improving his season record to 11-7-1. Thompson, on the other hand, stopped 36 of the 40 shots he faced, which led to a drop in his record to 14-8-3.
Both teams will meet again on Sunday for the second match of this home-and-home series, offering the Capitals a chance to bounce back immediately. The Red Wings will look to continue their winning streak and further solidify their top position in the division.