The Washington Capitals were overrun by the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena, suffering a 5-2 loss to drop their preseason record to 1-1-1.
Detroit scored twice in the first period — forward Austin Czarnik at even strength and defenseman Moritz Seider on the power play. The teams combined for four goals in a high-event second period, with tallies from forwards Dylan Strome and Matthew Phillips for Washington and from forwards Dylan Larkin and Cross Hanas for Detroit. Larkin scored his second goal at 5:43 of the third to ice the win for the Red Wings. Capitals goalie Hunter Shepard allowed all five goals on 25 shots.
In a reverse of the Capitals’ 4-3 win over Detroit in Washington on Thursday, the Red Wings’ lineup Saturday was heavier on established NHL talent, so the final score wasn’t a surprise. But as the Capitals head into the final week of training camp ahead of their Oct. 13 season opener against Pittsburgh, the competition for roster spots is intensifying.
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Here’s what else to know about the Capitals’ third preseason game:
Haman Aktell stands out
In his second preseason game, the Capitals’ Hardy Haman Aktell turned in a performance that demonstrates why he’s an intriguing option among the defensemen competing to replace the injured Joel Edmundson. The 25-year-old signed in April, and he brings an impressive skill set to North America after years of playing professionally in Sweden.
Haman Aktell played in all situations for Washington on Saturday, skating 20:33 total (including 3:06 on the power play and 2:38 on the penalty kill) — the second-most minutes among Washington’s defensemen. He didn’t land on the score sheet, but his shooting ability was on display, and he used his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame effectively on the other end of the ice. After he got his first game under his belt Thursday, Haman Aktell was visibly more comfortable and impactful the second time around.
The coaching staff is seeking reliability on the blue line, and Haman Aktell’s game showed signs that he could be a reliable option. And Haman Aktell displayed that reliability while playing challenging minutes; much of his ice time at even strength came against Detroit’s top players, and he held his own. According to statistics website Natural Stat Trick, the Capitals and Red Wings had six scoring chances apiece with Haman Aktell on the ice — so it was not a dominant defensive performance, but it was a showing that indicates he can keep his head above water against tougher competition.
Phillips brings skill
Phillips is an unusual case among the forwards competing for a roster spot. The forwards who fill out the fringes of a roster often are physical, hard-nosed types, but Phillips is the opposite. He’s small, listed by the Capitals at 5-7 and 140 pounds, but he has a high skill level. He scored 37 goals with Calgary of the American Hockey League last year (36 in 66 regular season games, plus one in the playoffs), and he showed off his high-end shot on his second-period goal Saturday.
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Capitals Coach Spencer Carbery said Saturday morning that decisions on the final roster spots will be made by looking at a combination of who the best players are and the role they could play. As a player whose game is predicated on skill, Phillips may not be able to stick in a bottom-six role in the NHL, but Carbery still views the 25-year-old as an option to fill out the roster.
“We’ve been monitoring that closely, with the Matt Phillipses of the world, Joe Snively, obviously [Aliaksei] Protas, [Beck] Malenstyn,” Carbery said. “There’s a lot of [assumptions of] what it will look like, but from a coaching perspective, that’s not the case for us. We’re evaluating all those guys.”
Phillips led the Capitals with four shots on goal Saturday as he meshed well with his linemates, Strome and Sonny Milano. If he sticks with Washington into the regular season, his offensive upside makes him an interesting player to have waiting in the wings.
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“Is it someone that’s an elite [penalty killer] in Beck Malenstyn? Or is it Matt Phillips, someone that might be able to give you more offensively? I think it’s specific to each guy,” Carbery said. “Do we feel comfortable with Matt Phillips potentially playing in a bottom-six role but being able to be productive there? And then with opportunity in-game, opportunity because of injury, now he bumps up and we can play him in more of an offensive role.”
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