This Date in Caps History - January 22

On January 22, 1991 the Washington Capitals edged the Detroit Red Wings by a 2-1 score in overtime at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

With Don Beaupre in goal for Washington and Tim Cheveldae opposing him for Detroit, the Capitals and Red Wings played two scoreless periods. The Capitals outshot the Wings 12-5 in the first period and Detroit returned the favor by outlaunching the Caps 8-4 in the second frame.

Detroit's Sheldon Kennedy finally broke the stalemate when he scored his first of the season at 2:41 of the third period. The Caps were still unable to solve Cheveldae and when Dale Hunter took a five-minute high-sticking major for the Capitals with just 6:45 remaining, things looked bleak for the visitors. But Calle Johansson came through for the Caps, scoring a shorthanded goal to tie the game with just 2:12 remaining. Dmitri Khristich and Michal Pivonka picked up the assists. Detroit outshot Washington 13-11 in the third period.

Each team got two shots on goal in the overtime period, but Washington made its second one count. Mike Ridley netted the game-winner for Washington at 3:08 of the extra stanza. Ridley's 13th of the season came on assists from Dave Tippett and John Druce. The Caps edged the Wings in shots on goal, 29-28.

Ridley's game-winner earned him the number one star designation. With Detroit's lone goal, Kennedy took the second star. Washington defenseman Al Iafrate was named the game's third star on the strength of a solid night's work in his own end of the rink.