Cross Hanas shows his skills in Detroit Red Wings' 5-2 preseason win over Washington

Cross Hanas is doing what a prospect should this time of year: Stand out.

The draftee from 2020 (55th overall) had a goal and an assist Saturday as the Detroit Red Wings matched a lineup featuring their top stars against a Washington Capitals squad light on NHLers. The Wings used their power play to build a three-goal lead and used two goals from Dylan Larkin to win, 5-2, at Little Caesars Arena.

"To get one was pretty special for me," Hanas said. "A lot of people would kill to be in this spot, so just try to take every day as a blessing. It's great to be out there.

"LCA is a beautiful arena. Me and Marco [Kasper], it was his first game, too, we were on the bench and right before the puck dropped, we looked at each other like, holy smokes, this is sweet. It's just super-fun to be out there."

Alex DeBrincat set up Larkin's goals. Kasper showed his gritty side when he tussled with ex-Wing Anthony Mantha after being slashed with minutes to spare in the third period.

"It's part of the experience," Lalonde said of Kasper's fight. "It's a different weight class and height for him, but it's all part of the experience."

Ville Husso got his first start of the exhibition season, playing a little more than half the game and making 15 saves on 16 shots before ceding the net to Michael Hutchinson.

Robby Fabbri did not finish the game because of an upper-body injury, but coach Derek Lalonde said Fabbri should be able to practice within a day, adding, "I don't think it's anything longterm."

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Prospects get looks

Nate Danielson, the team's top pick (No. 9 overall) in this summer's draft, started the game on a line with Fabbri and Andrew Copp. Kasper, the Wings' top pick in 2022 (No. 8) centered a line with Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Söderblom. Hanas put in hard work to put the Wings up 1-0: He had the puck in the Capitals' zone and lost his balance attempting to spin around, but still managed to set up Austin Czarnik's goal, at 7:19 of the first period.

Hanas' big night

Hanas added a goal to his evening's output at 12:20 of the first period, when he was moved up to play in Fabbri's position on Copp's line. Hanas used a wrist shot to put the Wings up, 4-1, netting his first goal of the preseason. Hanas was a standout performer during the prospects tournament that preceded training camp, and has continued to look like a prospect determined to move up the depth chart, making smart plays and taking advantage of his minutes.

"That's what a lot of sports is, is just getting a chance," Hanas said. "You never want to see anyone leave the game, but I got an opportunity to play on a couple different lines and that was pretty good for me." Lalonde said Hanas, "can finish, can make some plays. A skilled guy like that, he gets a chance like that, very happy he finished."

Power play clicks

The Capitals obliged with two penalties in the first period, giving the Wings the opportunity to fine-tune their units. That Dylan Larkin's group — him, DeBrincat, Fabbri, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider — converted was to be expected, given their skill set; it was Seider with a slap shot, at 13:12. Larkin scored at 2:46 of the second period, finishing a set-up by DeBrincat just a hair after a 53-second five-on-three advantage had expired. But the man advantage time also afforded fielding Danielson, Raymond and Söderblom, along with Berggren and Jake Walman.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings zing Washington Capitals, 5-2, in preseason