Red Wings Aim to Rebound as Ducks Stay Hot in Sunday Clash

The Detroit Red Wings left the ice Saturday night with frustration and regret. After leading 3-1 in the third period, they collapsed late, falling 4-3 in overtime to Minnesota. Fortunately, they won’t have to dwell on it for long as they host the surging Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Red Wings Looking to Move On

Blowing a late lead and missing out on a crucial playoff race point stung Detroit, but forward Lucas Raymond sees the quick turnaround as an advantage.

“The best part is we get another game tomorrow,” Raymond said. “We played solid for two and a half periods and let it slip away. Everyone will be eager to get back at it.”

Raymond, who scored a power-play goal early in the third, was part of a Detroit attack that seemed in control. But defensive lapses and a failure to capitalize on a 4-on-3 overtime power play cost them dearly.

Captain Dylan Larkin, who netted his league-leading 13th power-play goal, knows the team let an opportunity slip.

“We have to score there and put the game away,” Larkin said. “We just let them establish zone time late, and it burned us.”

Detroit head coach Todd McLellan echoed that sentiment.

“We were in control. When we scored early in the third, we felt good,” McLellan said. “That next power play, we got sloppy. We could have put the nail in the coffin, and that hurt us.”

Adding to the challenge, center Andrew Copp is unlikely to play Sunday after suffering an injury in a second-period altercation.

Ducks Flying High

Anaheim, meanwhile, heads into Little Caesars Arena red hot. The Ducks have won four straight and seven of their last eight, including a gutsy 3-2 overtime win in Boston on Saturday night.

Leo Carlsson played hero, scoring the game-winner after the Bruins tied it with just 1:11 left in regulation.

“Getting two points in this building is hard, but we were up for the challenge,” forward Frank Vatrano said. “They tied it late, but we stayed resilient. It’s a big win for us, and we’ve got to keep going.”

Anaheim’s defense has stepped up during this streak, holding opponents to two goals or fewer in each of the last four games.

Who Has the Edge?

Detroit will be motivated to bounce back after a frustrating collapse, but Anaheim is playing its best hockey of the season. The Ducks have already proven they can rally against the Wings, scoring four third-period goals to win 6-4 in their first meeting back in November.

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With Detroit fighting for a playoff spot and Anaheim pushing above .500, expect a hard-fought battle Sunday night. Can the Red Wings tighten up and get back in the win column, or will the Ducks continue their climb?

We’ll find out soon enough.