The first 10 minutes of the first period between the Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings made it seem like the game would be a defensive battle. Not so much.
Both teams combined for three goals in less than three minutes, but the Red Wings hold a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
The Caps had a chance to find some offense on a power play thanks to a Henrik Zetterberg penalty for delay of game, but they could not convert. Yet, less than a minute later, Zetterberg would atone for his sin by scoring the game's first goal. Good cycling in the zone led to a tic-tac-toe passing sequence that started at Dan Cleary and ended with Zetterberg alone in the slot for a slap shot goal past Michal Neuvirth at 12:23.
Just 33 seconds later, the Caps would respond. Washington's energy line would pin the Red Wings in their defensive zone. The puck would find its way to the right point, where John Carlson was waiting to blast a slap shot past Jimmy Howard for his sixth goal of the season and first on the road.
Not to be outdone, Valtteri Flippula would work a give-and-go with Brian Rafalski that saw the former cut to the crease while the latter fired a shot from the point. Flippula was in the right place to deflect it past Neuvirth at 14:45.
Shots are 10-9 in favor of Detroit.