AP

Fucale posts shutout in NHL debut, Capitals blank Red Wings

Nov 11, 2021, 5:34 AM | Updated: 8:26 pm

Washington Capitals goalie Zach Fucale stops a Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) shot...

Washington Capitals goalie Zach Fucale stops a Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)


              Detroit Red Wings goaltender Thomas Greiss (29) stops a Washington Capitals left wing Carl Hagelin (62) shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Washington Capitals goalie Zach Fucale stops a Detroit Red Wings center Pius Suter (24) shot as Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov, right, celebrates his goal with Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Washington Capitals goalie Zach Fucale stops a Detroit Red Wings shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Washington Capitals goalie Zach Fucale (60) celebrates after beating the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 in an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Washington Capitals goalie Zach Fucale stops a Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT (AP) — Zach Fucale became the first goaltender in Capitals history to post a shutout in his NHL debut, stopping 21 shots as Washington beat the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 Thursday night.

Dmitry Orlov and Lars Eller scored 10 seconds apart in the first period as the Capitals ended Detroit’s three-game win streak.

The 26-year-old Fucale was picked by Montreal in the second round of the 2013 draft. He was 3-0-2 this season for Hershey before the Capitals called him up this week from the American Hockey League.

“I can’t dream it better, to be honest,” Fucale said. “This is a really great moment. At the end of the day, it’s a great win, and it’s been a hell of a journey.

“But now one is out of the way, we move on and we go to the next game. That’s the reality of it.”

Fucale was the first goaltender to shut out the Red Wings in his NHL debut in Detroit’s 95 seasons. He came up big early as Detroit controlled play for the first 8 minutes.

“He was good, he was sharp,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. “And then even through the course of the rest of the game, there was a couple big saves that he had to make in there.”

Alex Ovechkin had an assist on the first goal for the Capitals, who opened a stretch of seven games in 11 days.

Orlov’s second goal of the season came off a pass from Evgeny Kuznetsov at 12:43.

Eller scored his first goal after a takeaway from Nick Jensen.

“I thought we were playing our game until they got the two goals, and then they packed it in,” Red Wings center Dylan Larkin said. “After that, we didn’t execute. We didn’t get the puck to the net and we didn’t create enough.”

Thomas Greiss made 27 saves for the Red Wings, who killed four penalties but could not convert on their four power-play chances.

“We didn’t shoot enough, and we didn’t get to pucks in front of the net,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “There were some rebounds and some shots that got blocked and ended up in front – we didn’t get there.”

DREAM DRIVE

Fucale found out he was starting on Wednesday night and his father, Jack, drove down from Montreal. His mother, Catherine, came from Toronto, where she was working.

“They kind of just met here, some family friends made it as well,” Zach Fucale said. “I’m real happy. This is really cool that they’re here.”

Fucale got a big dousing of water from teammates upon entering the locker room after the win.

NOTES

Capitals: Fucale was the fifth Capitals player to make his NHL debut this season. … Washington was without T.J. Oshie (left foot) for the sixth straight game, Anthony Mantha (shoulder) for the third straight game and Nic Dowd for the first game since Monday’s lower-body injury against Buffalo. Nicklas Backstrom (hip) has not played this season.

Red Wings: Detroit was going for its first four-game win streak since March 2019.

UP NEXT

Capitals: Play at Columbus on Friday.

Red Wings: Host Montreal on Saturday.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Fucale posts shutout in NHL debut, Capitals blank Red Wings