{"id":363141,"date":"2025-12-22T05:48:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T05:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/363141\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T05:48:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T05:48:09","slug":"red-wings-beat-caps-3-2-ot-if-only-someone-other-than-ethen-frank-could-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/363141\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings beat Caps 3-2 (OT): If only someone other than Ethen Frank could score"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ud83d\udcf8: @JohnWaltonPxP<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

For the second time in as many days, the Washington Capitals faced the Detroit Red Wings. This time they met in Michigan, and this time the Caps didn\u2019t look as listless. Still not good enough.<\/p>\n

Ethen Frank had a head of steam to start us off 1-0 Caps. Lucas Raymond enjoyed multiple screens to put a power-play goal on Charlie Lindgren and tie the game. John Leonard (Ryan\u2019s brother, boo, hiss) gave Detroit the lead on a redirect.<\/p>\n

In the third, Ethen Frank redeemed the Caps with a casual shot from the high slot. That forced overtime, where Moritz Seider beat Lindgren top-shelf.<\/p>\n

Caps lose.<\/p>\n

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As Chris noted, this was an odd bit of scheduling. The Caps and Wings rarely do a back-to-back like this. And the last time the Caps lost both was in 1998, when this webpage would have had a scrolling marquee and guestbook.<\/p>\n

There are many quirks due to past scheduling and conference alignment, but the Capitals have not lost back-to-back games to the Red Wings in the same season since the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals.<\/p>\n

In the regular season only, since the end of the 1997-98 campaign. https:\/\/t.co\/9kPmhDIMNR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Cerullo (@CJC_95) December 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

After that unpleasant outing on Saturday, I was encouraged by the team\u2019s strong first period. The Caps had nine high-danger chances in the first period \u2013 to just one by the Wings. They definitely had the puck more. It\u2019s just that \u2013
\nThey can\u2019t score. That is, except for 27-year-old Ethen Frank. This is the second two-goal game of Frank\u2019s career. The first came a month and a day ago, in that silly 8-4 win over the Habs<\/a>.
\nFrank\u2019s first goal was the product of his speed, but also of Albert Johansson crashing to the ice. Maybe the former caused the latter too.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, credit to Detroit goalie Cam Talbot for a great performance in the far net.
\nI was tickled by the idea of Justin Sourdif lining up with Alex Ovechkin, but it didn\u2019t pan out. Seems like the other lines were all better at generating chances.
\nNo points for Ovi in the last four games, but he had five shots today.
\nWings winger Elmer Soderblom\u2018s face exploded when Matt Roy hit a puck into it. I assume it hit his nose, because those things tend to bleed and because I always hope guys don\u2019t lose any teeth, especially a few days before Christmas. I don\u2019t have a visual of the injury, but imagine even more red on the ice than you\u2019d get in a normal Caps-Wings game.
\nRyan Leonard needs to come back. This game would have been an easy win if he could have pulled some brotherly hijinx against John, who scored his second goal of the weekend. Could have been avoided with a simple rug burn, noogie, purple nurple, charlie horse, boston crab, sharpshooter, pedigree, diamond cutter, or burning hammer.
\nHendrix Lapierre made a heroic return to the active roster. Through regulation he played 7:23 in eight shifts. His line with Miroshnichenko, who was great, and Duhaime dominated what little play they had.<\/p>\n

soooo are we going to talk about this or? as chaotic as the lines #joebsuitofthenight<\/p>\n

\u2014 RMNB (@rmnb.bsky.social)<\/a> 2025-12-21T17:58:10.382Z<\/a><\/p>\n

Well, that was way better than Saturday, but not a lot.. Maybe I\u2019m spoiled, but I am used to the Caps being more fun than this.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re in the middle of the roster freeze, so nothing\u2019s going to happen imminently, but I feel like something is going to happen<\/a>. The Caps have been a very good team pretty much all season, but when they\u2019ve faltered it\u2019s been because they don\u2019t have elite finishing talent to convert the solid playmaking they already have.<\/p>\n

Rangers on Tuesday, then a brief holiday break. With all the sincerity I\u2019ve got left: peace on earth and goodwill toward all.<\/p>\n

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