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Red Wings fall to Capitals in shootout

Posted at 10:53 PM, Dec 08, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-08 22:53:40-05

WASHINGTON (AP) -- T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the shootout, and the Washington Capitals got a key goal from Alex Ovechkin in a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

After Ovechkin tied the game at 10:51 of the third period, Washington killed a Detroit power play in overtime to force the shootout.

Oshie began by beating Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, and Gustav Nyquist was denied by Braden Holtby on the other end. Kuznetsov followed by with an easy goal off a deke to his right and Pavel Datsyuk missed to provide the Capitals with the win.

Justin Williams also scored for Washington.

Howard stopped 38 shots. Despite the loss, the Red Wings earned a point in an 11th straight game (8-0-3), their longest streak since 2010.

Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Jurco scored for Detroit.

Ten of Detroit's last 11 games have been decided by one goal, as have each of its three games with the Capitals this season.

Down 2-1, Washington pulled even on its fourth power-play opportunity of the game. With the puck loose in the crease and two Capitals desperately trying to shove it home, Ovechkin joined the fray and knocked it into the left side of the net.

Though Washington owned a 28-15 advantage in shots on goal after two periods, solid goaltending by Howard made up for the difference.

Detroit used the hustle of Joakim Andersson and deft stickhandling by Jurco to break a 1-1 tie at 3:16 of the second. Andersson outskated Washington's Dmitry Orlov to secure a loose puck along the back boards, then sent a pass to Jurco in front of the net. After feigning left, Jurco scored from the right side.

It was Jurco's first goal of the season and 12th in 106 career games.

Seeking their fifth straight home win, the Capitals took a 1-0 lead when Williams scored with 43 seconds elapsed, the team's quickest goal of the season.

Washington took six shots before Detroit tested Holtby for the first time, but the Red Wings pulled even at 15:40 when Zetterberg converted a centering pass from Dylan Larkin after Detroit won a faceoff in the Washington end.

NOTES: Detroit D Mike Green returned to Washington for the first time since signing with the Red Wings as a free agent in July following a 10-year run with the Capitals. The sellout crowd gave Green a standing ovation following a video tribute during the first period. ... Datsyuk played in his 900th career game. ... Nicklas Backstrom became the 18th player to play in 600 games with the Capitals. ... Holtby joined Olie Kolzig and Don Beaupre as the only goalies to play in 200 games with Washington. ... Williams picked up his 600th career point and Marcus Johansson tallied No. 200 with their collaboration on Washington's first goal.