The Breakdown: Red Wings Yield Late Power Play Goal, Fall to Capitals

Who will stay and who will go? Icing a lineup that’s starting to sort through that question, it was roster locks Tyler Bertuzzi and Michael Rasmussen who scored the first two goals for the Detroit Red Wings.

But Washington would prevail with a late power play goal from Connor Brown that scored a 4-2 victory. In the practice shoot out, the Red Wings sent Filip Zadina and Bertuzzi out for the extra chances but neither converted.

Dylan Strome and Evgeni Kuznetsov scored the goals for the Capitals in the practice session.

Ville Husso made 31 saves on 34 shots, looking sharp during long stretches of the contest.

Bertuzzi started the scoring on a 5-on-3 power play that Detroit wasted little time converting. Since his first game on Monday, Bertuzzi hasn’t missed a beat from his 30-goal campaign last season.

Bertuzzi would later feed Rasmussen for the second goal of the game, a laser that Rasumssen tucked right under the crossbar.

The Red Wings return to Little Caesars Arena on Friday to take on the Maple Leafs before turning around to visit Toronto in its own barn Saturday evening.

Roster decisions are sure to continue as they head toward their final pair of games this preseason. There will certainly be some tough calls as it goes down to the wire.

But it certainly seems with each passing game that Soderblom and Simon Edvinsson are a more likely option for the final roster.

Well, if they're "Big Elmer" and "Big Simon," "Little Albert" Johansson has impressed me as well. Very mature game.

— George Malik (@georgemalik) October 6, 2022

Facts and Observations

1.  Elmer Soderblom was very active all night, having a point blank chance late in the third. Though it was gobbled up by Darcy Kuemper, the towering forward was once again in the right position to force a scoring chance. Soderblom ended the game with 13:20 of ice time and four shots on goal.
2. Rasmussen had 3:20 seconds on the man advantage among the 17:47 for the night. The momentum from the second half of last season continues to carry on as the big center finished the game with two points. He very well could have notched two goals, but his shot was stopped. Bertuzzi cleaned up the rebound.
3. Rasmussen, Bertuzzi and Zadina all wore an A on their sweater. Who will the Red Wings ultimately settle on when it comes to the letters on the sweater?
4. Joe Veleno had another solid outing and was fourth in ice time among forwards. Veleno also sent TJ Oshie off early for the night after finishing a check in the second period. He might be ten pounds lighter, but Veleno has been playing bigger on the ice.
5. Givani Smith, one of many Red Wings fighting for a roster spot, dropped the gloves late in the game after taking a shot to the head. He also had a late chance that was deflected out of play.