The Detroit Red Wings looked to earn a series sweep against the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon, having defeated the Caps 5-2 on Saturday in the first game of a two-game “Moms’ Trip.” Detroit entered today’s affair with a 7-2-and-1 record over their past 10 games.
On Sunday afternoon, the Red Wings pulled off an unlikely win, frankly.
Washington out-shot the Wings 14-5 in the 1st period, and Ethen Frank scored walking through Albert Johansson and then going 5-hole on Cam Talbot at 14:17…
But at 8:37 of the 2nd period, on the power play, Lucas Raymond blasted an ASP pass into the goal to tie the game, and, remarkably, John Leonard would leg-score on an Alex DeBrincat’s shot at 13:44, giving the Wings a 2-1 lead…
And it looked like it would end that way, but Frank would sneak onto the ice and blaze a 5-hole goal through Talbot at 10:22 of the 3rd, in which the Caps out-shot a sleepy Wings team 10-4 (Detroit out-shot Washington 12-8 in the 2nd)…
And an OT power play did not work for the Wings, but the last-second regroups by the Caps didn’t pay off as they cycled back to center and back to center again…
And instead, Moritz Seider would benefit from a Copp-and-Finnie 2-on-1 which became Andrew Copp ripping the puck back to Seider, whose snap shot found the back of the net at 4:36 of OT.
MO SEIDER OT WINNER FOR THE WINGS ๐ฅ๐จ pic.twitter.com/BU7GS2iYh4
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 21, 2025
LFG pic.twitter.com/fKxYFazm1j
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
Moritz Seider:
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 21, 2025
– OT winner today
– 25P in 36GP including 21 in his last 21
– Some of the best defensive analytics in the NHL
– Wings first in the Atlantic
Heโs building a strong Norris finalist resume. ๐ pic.twitter.com/GAlN2gub63
PREGAME: Cam Talbot and Charlie Lindgren led their teams out onto the ice at Little Caesars Arena…
SUNDAY FUNDAY pic.twitter.com/mAFhgeLh8C
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
The Red Wings made some lineup changes as well…
Scratches are always subject to change, but it appears that Marco Kasper and Jacob Bernard-Docker tweaked something over the course of yesterday's game.
— George Malik (@georgemalik) December 21, 2025
They're listed as scratches, so Appleton (off IR) and Hamonic draw in. pic.twitter.com/Wz8XSddmtQ
The Capitals posted their lines quite early, and their lineup had changed, too, in terms of their lines…
Lineys#CapsWings | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/EjQUF75kGY
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2025
And, as per usual, the Wings posted their lineup closer to puck drop:
Lineup on a Sunday. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/qFN9nliu6R
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
1ST PERIOD: The teams dressed the following starters and lineups:

Prior to the game, the Wings celebrated their 70’s era, and that included FanDuel Sports Network Detroit giving Mickey Redmond a video gift…
Mickey Redmond is a staple of the @DetroitRedWings family โค๏ธ๐ค
— FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) December 21, 2025
In todayโs Centennial Moment, we take a look at what makes Mick so special. pic.twitter.com/rlSc91oRGP
And 5 captains from the 70’s dropped the puck after this tribute to Olympia and the early days of the Joe:
Two iconic buildings. "The Old Red Barn" & "The Joe".@meijer x #LGRW pic.twitter.com/kioo1llsLM
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
Former Red Wings captains, including Red Berenson โ who I was once lucky enough to learn from while covering Michigan as a student, when we'd sit together and share popcorn at practice โ are on hand for a ceremonial puck drop today. Very cool pic.twitter.com/vMb2X9HXTR
— Bailey Johnson (@BaileyAJohnson_) December 21, 2025
PENALTY: Elmer Soderblom got tagged for tripping at 3:23 of the 1st period, with Washington keeping the Wings trapped south of center ice.
GOAL: Albert Johansson fell over tracking back, and Ethen Frank deked through the falling Johansson and then Cam Talbot on the Caps’ 11th shot, scoring 5-hole to make it 1-0 Washington at 14:17.
Washington 1, Detroit 0: Frank (5) from Strome (19) at 14:17 1st.
speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed pic.twitter.com/pgjIrCIiRv
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2025
Sweet backhand by Ethen Frank to open the scoring ๐ฌ pic.twitter.com/Fo90aqyoXF
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 21, 2025
INJURY: Elmer Soderblom took a puck off the blade of his own stick. It ramped up and caught him on the face.
After 1 pic.twitter.com/VrsnxJk2rS
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
1st period stats:
— George Malik (@georgemalik) December 21, 2025
Shots in the 1st 14-6 Washington.
Shot attempts an ugly 30-12 Washington.
Hits 8-5 Detroit.
Giveaways 4-1 Detroit;
Takeaways 1-0 Detroit;
Blocks 7-4 Detroit;
Faceoffs 8-8 under a shaky linesman (50%). pic.twitter.com/CKuiWjdzH6
2ND PERIOD:
PENALTY: Alex DeBrincat was tripped by Duhaime at 7:22 of the 2nd period.
GOAL: Emmitt Finnie cycled the puck back to the D on the power play, Axel Sandin Pellikka went backhand to forehand in a jiffy and sent the puck right to Lucas Raymond, who ripped a shot through a Nate Danielson screen to tie the game 1-1 at 8:37 of the 2nd.
RAY RAY ON THE POWER PLAY pic.twitter.com/yUAECE6Lzy
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
#RedWings on the board! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Y9nnhUCpdH
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
Lucas Raymond snipes home his 11th goal of the season!
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) December 21, 2025
๐บ : #NHLNShowcase on NHL Network https://t.co/694Oit8HHL pic.twitter.com/iVKr4Kyklj
Washington 1, Detroit 1: Raymond (11) from Sandin Pellikka (10) and Finnie (9) at 8:37 2nd period, PPG.
GOAL: John Leonard kept the puck going forward at the Caps’ blueline, he sent the puck up to Andrew Copp deep in Washington’s zone down by the red line, and Copp must have heard Alex DeBrincat yell, because he rimmed the puck around on his backhand to DeBrincat at the left wing half boards. DeBrincat shot the puck at Lindgren and Leonard tipped it home with his leg to give Detroit an unlikely lead at 13:44 of the 2nd.
LENNY!!!! pic.twitter.com/kZh5VLtUFL
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
Lenny gets a piece! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/BpncrtTJQW
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
John Leonard loves playing the Caps ๐
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 21, 2025
He scores his first two goals of the season in back-to-back days against Washington โ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/Stx8vaA028
Make it goals in back-to-back games for John Leonard!
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) December 21, 2025
The @DetroitRedWings take the lead!
๐บ : #NHLNShowcase on NHL Network https://t.co/t2Wfz4nlzk pic.twitter.com/uTLGcHB4m4
Washington 1, Detroit 2: Leonard (2) from DeBrincat (20) and Copp (18) at 13:44 of the 2nd period.
After 2 pic.twitter.com/e5s2FZnHzD
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
2nd period stats:
— George Malik (@georgemalik) December 21, 2025
Shots 12-8 Detroit in the 2nd period, shots 22-17 Washington overall.
Detroit 1-for-1 in 1:15 PP; Washington 0-for-1.
Attempts 50-34 Washington;
Hits 12-8 Detroit;
Giveaways 11-2 Detroit;
Takeaways 5-2 Detroit;
Blocks 11-8 Detroit;
FO's 19-17 DET (53%). pic.twitter.com/jMrcSsOgSc
Also: Elmer Soderblom returned with a full facial shield and an upper lip full of stitches midway through the 2nd period. Tough guy!
To @Xfinity Overtime. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/fPZvxcezKX
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
3RD PERIOD:
GOAL: Ethen Frank snuck his way off the bench past the Wings’ players at centter ice, Dylan Strome battled at the Wings line and lateralled the puck to John Carlson, who found Ethan Frank, and he chipped the puck 5-hole through a Chiarot screen to score.
Franky nets his 2๏ธโฃnd to tie it up! ๐จ#ALLCAPS | #CapsWings pic.twitter.com/IzNl1eLTMC
— Monumental Sports Network (@MonSportsNet) December 21, 2025
Keep turnin' and burnin', Franky pic.twitter.com/EyM06wnJ3A
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2025
Ethen Frank has his second goal of the game! This game is tied!
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) December 21, 2025
๐บ: #NHLNShowcase on NHL Network https://t.co/LnRnKvxhHM pic.twitter.com/gNErzktoaI
Washington 2, Detroit 2: Frank (6) from Carlson (21) and Strome (20) at 10:22 3rd period.
Hockey guy pic.twitter.com/Hu9QqjFCvU
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
3rd period stats. pic.twitter.com/lUOZUdIBjN
— George Malik (@georgemalik) December 21, 2025
OVERTIME:
PENALTY: Detroit got a 4-on-3 power play as Strome hooked Larkin at 35 seconds of OT.
GOAL: Moritz Seider snuck behind the Capitals’ 3-man defense as Andrew Copp chugged up on a 2-on-1 with Emmit Finnie. Finnie could not take the pass but he reversed to Copp and Copp found Seider, who blasted the puck through Lindgren for an OT goal at 4:36.
MORTIZZZZZZ FOR THE WIN!!!! pic.twitter.com/0QSOVytsot
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
MO SEIDER OT WINNER FOR THE WINGS ๐ฅ๐จ pic.twitter.com/BU7GS2iYh4
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 21, 2025
ONE-TIMER FOR THE WIN ๐
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 21, 2025
Andrew Copp finds Mo Seider for the Subway Canada OT winner! pic.twitter.com/nfvO1iM0N4
MO WINS ITโผ๏ธ
— NHL (@NHL) December 21, 2025
Moritz Seider secures the win for the @DetroitRedWings in @Energizer overtime! pic.twitter.com/6Etr8K0ZOs
Washington 2, Detroit 3: Seider (6) from Copp (17) and Finnie (100 at 4:36 OT.
WEEKEND SWEEP! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/IfuVfxkrXD
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 21, 2025
STATISTICS: Here are the Game Summary and Event Summary:


FINAL STATS:
— George Malik (@georgemalik) December 21, 2025
Shots 6-1 Detroit in OT, shots 33-27 Washington overall.
Detroit 1-for-2 in 3:15 PP; Washington 0-for-1 in 2:00.
Attempts 75-56 Washington;
Hits 16-11 Detroit;
Giveaways 18-10 Detroit;
Takeaways 6-2 Detroit;
Blocks 18-13 Detroit;
FO's 29-28 Detroit (51%). pic.twitter.com/vUif1g18dR
Individually..
— George Malik (@georgemalik) December 21, 2025
1G for Raymond, Seider, Leonard, 1A for Copp, ASP, Finnie, DeBrincat.
Detroit was -2. ASP -2, Chiarot and Leonard and DeBrincat -1, Hamonic, Seider, Finnie +1.
5 shots and 6 attempts for Raymond, 3 shots and 8 attempts for DeBrincat, 3 shots for Larkin (6โฆ https://t.co/Jn4GmaLtN3