Faltering Red Wings Lose Lead, Game To Capitals, 5-2

It looked so good for the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night.

They led 2- 1 after two periods and looked well on their way to snapping a four-game losing streak during the tail end of a back-to-back.

Then the roof fell in. Detroit gave up four goals in the third period, including two shorthanded tallies, as Eastern Conference leader Washington blew things wide open with four goals and won easily, 5-2.

“You’re 2-1 going into the third and we have a power play,” Red Wings forward Patrick Kane told FanDuel Sports Detroit. “We give up a shorthanded goal, give up another one right as the penalty expired and another shorthanded goal.

“So those are chances to get momentum at least or enhance our lead a little bit. And we went the opposite way.”

The loss didn’t affect the Red Wings’ place in the Eastern Conference. They’re still a point out of the playoff picture, a point behind Ottawa and the New York Rangers and two points behind seventh-place Columbus.

The Red Wings took the lead early, Dylan Larkin scored 43 seconds into the game on a shot he bounced off of Washington goalie Logan Thompson into the net. Moritz Seider scored at the seven-minute mark and it looked like the Wings were on their way.

But Washington got on the board late in the first period on a goal by Taylor Raddysh. The first of two from Aleksei Protas tied the game, less than a minute into the third. Jakob Chychrun scored a minute later to give the Capitals the lead, and they never looked back.

Red Wings Run Out Of Gas

“There were chances for us to get some momentum, at least of enhance our lead a little bit,” said Patrick Kane, who assisted on Seiter’s goal. It was pretty frustrating Our power play has been so good for us all year and for it to let you down in a big game like this….You’ve got to find a way to win those games.”

Coach Todd McLellan allowed for fatigue for his players, to a point.

“We were playing our third game in four nights, and needed our power play to give us some momentum and then we gave it all back at the beginning of the third period. We need it to at least play even, especially when your legs are a little bit heavier and you’re playing a real goodteam.”

‘The Wings are off Saturday before they travel to Ottawa to meet the Senators on Monday.

Sunday’s practice will be their first chance to see Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith, acquired on a trade Friday

“The first thing they’ve got to do is rest,” McLellan said. ‘They’re still humans. We need to have a good practice on Sunday and understand what we’re facing against the Senators.”

Edvinsson Leaves Game With Injury

The Wings are a little banged up as well.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson left the ice early in the third and did not return.

“I don’t know (what was wrong) and I don’t know (his availability going forward),” McLellan said. “He left the game, 10 minutes after he’s still getting looked at.

“Obviously, when a player leaves and he doesn’t return, especially for that amount of time, there’s something not right but I don’t have a report for you.”

Larkin twisted his leg toward the end of the second period and limped off the ice but took a regular shift in the third.