Wings fail to protect two-goal lead, upended by Ducks, 6-4

This was two games in one, but in the end Friday, the Red Wings' poor part of the game was costly.

Anaheim scored four straight goals, including two in a span of 38 seconds midway in 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 that point on.

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

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 only his second start this season. Wings goalie Alex Lyon stopped 23 shots but struggled in his first start since Oct. 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, played one shift in the third period, then left the game. No update on Edvinsson's availability was available.

Kasper's goal was his first in the NHL. After missing on a great attempt minutes before, Kasper converted J.T. Compher's feed near the circle at 7:59, giving the Wings a 1-0 lead.

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

Raymond made it 3-1, just 1:05 into the second period. DeBrincat broke Raymond free with an outlet pass, and Raymond blistered a shot past Gibson for only Raymond's second goal this season, 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, igniting Anaheim's comeback.