Red Wings Fall Short in Shootout Despite DeBrincat’s Late Heroics
DETROIT - If you ask Alex DeBrincat, the Red Wings left something on the table Wednesday night. “We didn’t play our best game.
Definitely not happy with one point,” he said after Detroit’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals. And he wasn’t wrong.
This one had all the makings of a hard-earned comeback, but in the end, it was a night of missed chances, a disallowed goal, and a reminder that even with Patrick Kane making history, the margins in the NHL are razor-thin.
A Night of Frustration and Resilience
The tone was set early. Detroit thought they had struck first, with Kane picking up what would have been a milestone assist.
But after a quick review, the goal was wiped off the board-Kane was offsides on the zone entry. Just like that, the Red Wings’ early momentum vanished.
Washington didn’t wait around to take advantage. Nic Dowd cashed in late in the first period, giving the Caps a 1-0 lead and putting Detroit on its heels.
Ben Chiarot answered back midway through the second, stepping into a shot from between the dots to tie it up. That goal seemed to stabilize things-for a while. But the third period brought more adversity.
Dylan Strome snuck one past John Gibson midway through the frame, and Declan Chisholm added another with just five minutes left in regulation. Down 3-1, it looked like Detroit was out of gas.
Then came the spark.
With the goalie pulled and just over three minutes left, DeBrincat went into takeover mode. He scored twice in a 50-second span, both with the extra attacker on the ice, to tie the game and send it to overtime. It was the kind of response coaches love to see-gritty, urgent, and fearless.
But the comeback stopped there. Overtime didn’t settle it, and in the shootout, it was Dowd again who delivered the dagger, sealing the win for Washington.
A Subtle Message from the Bench
One of the more telling moments of the night came on the power play. After two unsuccessful man-advantage opportunities, head coach Todd McLellan made a bold move-he dropped Patrick Kane to the second unit.
The message? Focus on the team, not the milestone.
It didn’t take long for the adjustment to pay off. Chiarot scored the team's first goal shortly after the switch, and while Kane still picked up career point No. 1,375, the emphasis clearly shifted to team execution over individual accolades.
McLellan summed it up postgame: “We have to provide energy and enthusiasm and focus individually, but also collectively for each other so that we can push for that point.”
Special Teams Come Up Empty
One of the biggest swings in the game? Detroit’s power play-ranked seventh in the league-went 0-for-4 in traditional 5-on-4 situations. That’s a rare off night for a unit that’s been a consistent weapon all season.
Yes, DeBrincat’s two late goals came with the extra skater, but both were scored with the goalie pulled, not on a formal power play. That distinction matters. In tight games like this, converting with the man advantage can be the difference between one point and two.
What’s Next
The Red Wings won’t have long to dwell on this one. They’ve got one more home game before the Olympic break-a Saturday matinee against the Colorado Avalanche kicks off a home-and-home series.
Puck drops at 1:00 p.m. ET, and you can bet Detroit will be looking to clean up the small details that cost them against Washington.
The effort was there. The finish, just a little short.