Detroit Red Wings cap off the road trip with 3-1 win in Washington

The Detroit Red Wings were able to pick up the victory against the Capitals in the nation’s capital. The Capitals were handed their fifth straight loss. Their offensive efforts were indeed stunted without Alex Ovechkin on the ice, and it showed on Tuesday night.

It was a game where the Detroit Red Wings had to play without Dylan Larkin for most of the game after a game misconduct would send him to the dressing room early. It was a big game for the Red Wings to win, and they came away with the two points that they needed.

The team rode the backs of Pius Suter in Larkin’s absence, who had the offense going with the puck on his stick. Two unassisted goals helped him get the Red Wings to a two-goal lead.

Ville Husso got it done between the blue paint and helped Detroit finish the road trip with a massive win in D.C. to keep plugging along in pursuit of a wildcard spot. With a few games in hand, this game was a big win for them to keep pushing up in the standings.

Let’s get into the action from tonight’s contest.

Detroit Red Wings emerge victorious in the nation’s capital.

1st Period

It was all quiet on the western front to start this one. The first half of this period was pretty calm before things got going. The Detroit Red Wings were able to strike first from the stick of defenseman Robert Hagg.

Hagg scored on a nice shot from the point that got through traffic and into the back of Washington’s net. A nice wrister from the point and a good screen in front from David Perron helped Hagg pick up the goal and give the Red Wings the 1-0 lead. Here’s the goal…

After the first goal, the Red Wings would lose out on Dylan Larkin for the remainder of the game. After a cross-check to the face of TJ Oshie that seemed very accidental on Larkin’s part, a review landed Larkin with an early departure from the game with a game misconduct and a 5-minute power play awarded to the Capitals.

However, the Red Wings did not give up. Forward Pius Suter continued to stay hot and found the back of the net with a beautiful wrist shot to beat Kuemper top shelf for the goal. He carried the puck through the neutral zone and faked a pass across before letting the wrist shot rip. Here’s the goal…

The power-play continued after the short-handed goal, and they would not go quietly. Washington was able to find the back of the net on an Erik Gustafson shot from the point that appeared to be re-directed by Tom Wilson in front of the net.

Tons of traffic in front seemed to serve as a problematic screen for Ville Husso. The Capitals made it 2-1 with that tally, and that’s where things would stand as the first period came to a close.

2nd Period

The second period was arguably one of the quietest second periods the Red Wings have posted as of late. The Red Wings have been the victim of multiple blow-up periods that tended to be the second, but this time they were able to stave off the opposition.

Honestly, both teams traded some scoring chances but nothing crazy—a couple of penalties, but neither team found the back of the net. The Red Wings took a 2-1 lead over the Capitals into the second intermission.

3rd Period

The Red Wings were able to strike again in the third period. Some how, some way, Suter continues to find a way to get it done. He was cutting toward the middle of the ice, where he knocked down a turnover from Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Suter corralled the puck and then took his eyes to the net before burying it into the twine for his second goal of the night to extend the Red Wings’ lead to 3-1. Here’s the goal from Suter…

The Red Wings were able to take things home and come away with a 3-1 victory over the Capitals to finish the road trip. They did a great job finishing and taking it to Washington to seal the win and get themselves back in the win column.

Detroit heads home and will take on the New York Rangers, who are in town on Thursday.