"Could have, would have, should have, but didn't. Coach Mike Babcock tolerated no "what ifs" after the Red Wings' 7-1 loss Saturday night to the NHL-leading Washington Capitals.

The Wings might have delayed their first loss of the season had they scored during a second straight half-minute, two-man advantage in the second period, but instead their power play again sputtered, and a 3-1 deficit soon became 4-1.

"A goal there, we're right in the game," Henrik Zetterberg said. "We can take that on the road. But against these kinds of teams, you have to score goals, because they will score goals. They are really good when they get their chances, and you have to match that. Their power play was better than ours.""