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The Wings fail to protect their two-goal lead, overturned by the Ducks, 6-4

Umito November 16, 2024

It was two games in one, but in the end Friday, the Red Wings’ bad play cost them dearly.

Anaheim scored four straight goals, including two in a 38-second span midway through the third period, leading the Ducks to a 6-4 victory over the Wings.

The Wings (7-8-1) led 3-1 early in the second period after Lucas Raymond’s goal, but Anaheim exploded from there.

Cutter Gauthier and Ross Johnston both scored their first goals of the season – for Gauthier, his first in the NHL – breaking a 3-3 tie in the third period.

Alex DeBrincat cut the Ducks’ lead to 5-4 with his seventh goal – and the Wings’ third power play goal of the game – at 16:16 of the third period.

But Anaheim’s Ryan Strome scored an empty-net goal to end the scoring.

Anaheim goaltender John Gibson made 21 saves in just his second start this season. Wings goaltender Alex Lyon stopped 23 shots, but struggled in his first start since October 30.

Marco Kasper and Jonatan Berggren scored first-period power play goals, and Raymond scored in the second period, giving the Wings a 3-1 lead.

Olen Zellweger, Trevor Zegras (power play) and Troy Terry (power play) added the Ducks’ goals.

Simon Edvinsson took a shot to the side of his right knee late in the second period, played one shift in the third period, then left the game. An update on Edvinsson’s availability was not available.

Kasper’s goal was his first in the NHL. After missing a great attempt a few minutes earlier, Kasper converted JT Compher’s shot near the circle at 7:59, giving the Wings a 1-0 lead.

Berggren increased the lead to 2-0 with his second goal in two games. Vladimir Tarasenko found Berggren between the circle and the goal line and Berggren fired a shot past Gibson at 19:16.

Raymond made it 3-1, just 1:05 into the second period. DeBrincat released Raymond with an outlet pass, and Raymond fired a shot past Gibson for just Raymond’s second goal of the season, the first at even strength.

But the Ducks rallied with Zegras (second goal) cutting the lead to 3-2 late in the second period, and Terry tying the game at 3-3 with his sixth goal at 3:54 of the third period, sparking the back from Anaheim.

The Wings play Saturday in Los Angeles (FDSN/97.1).

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