Moritz Seider has a goal and an assist, Red Wings beat Capitals 5-2

WASHINGTON (AP) — Moritz Seider had a goal and an assist and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Saturday.

John Leonard and James van Riemsdyk — siblings of sidelined Capitals players Ryan Leonard and Trevor van Riemsdyk — also scored for the Red Wings. So did Elmer Soderblom and Dylan Larkin.

Detroit has won three of its last four games and remains atop a very competitive Atlantic Division.

Aliaksei Protas and Martin Fehervary scored for the Capitals, who have dropped four of their last five contests.

The Red Wings dominated early and often, outshooting the Capitals 17-6 in the opening frame. Leonard opened the scoring just 1:05 minutes into the contest, crashing the net and sneaking a rebound past Logan Thompson.

Detroit then took control in the second, scoring three goals in 10:05 to make it a 4-0 game.

Just over a minute into the middle frame, van Riemsdyk corralled Seider’s rebound off the boards and fired it past Thompson. Then, Soderblom scored after being taken down in front before Seider called his own number on a 2-on-0 for his fifth goal of the season.

Protas responded seconds after Seider’s goal, streaking up the ice and beating John Gibson glove side to cut things to 4-1.

In the third, the Capitals showed more life, and Fehervary scored from long range to pull it to 4-2 early on. Jakob Chychrun struck shortly after to bring Washington within one, but it was waved off for goaltender interference, and ultimately, D.C.’s rally fell short as Larkin iced the game with an empty-netter.

Gibson made 24 saves for his seventh straight win in net, moving him to 11-7-1 on the season.

Thompson stopped 36 of 40 shots in the loss to drop to 14-8-3.

Red Wings: Host the Capitals on Sunday for the second game of a home-and-home.

Capitals: Visit the Red Wings on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot, left, battles for the puck against Washington Capitals center Ethen Frank in front of Red Wings goaltender John Gibson during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Detroit Red Wings left wing Elmer Soderblom (85) moves past Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) to score a goal against Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan watches the action from the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Roy, right moves in to gather the puck as Detroit Red Wings left wing James van Riemsdyk, left, knocks Capitals center Nic Dowd to the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) gathers the puck near the net against Washington Capitals left wing Sonny Milano during the first period of an NHL hockey game,Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)