Red Wings Win, Ducks Extend Record Losing Streak To 12

Gustav Nyquist broke a tie with 4:16 left and Darren Helm scored a little later, lifting the Detroit Red Wings over the Ducks 3-1 on Tuesday night to extend their franchise-record losing streak to 12 games.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 10: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his second period with Gustav Nyquist #14 while playing the Los Angeles Kings at Little Caesars Arena on December 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 3-1. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

"I just see the frustration," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said.

For the third straight setback, Anaheim went into the third period with a one-goal lead and failed to win.

"This is a familiar story for us," said Carlyle, recently given a vote of confidence by general manager Bob Murray. "We get a one-goal lead going into the third period and we just seem to be running right out of gas."

NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 18: Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks handles bench duties against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 18, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Ducks' losing streak is the NHL's longest single-season skid since the Buffalo Sabres lost 14 games in a row four years ago.

"We've had our meetings," defenseman Jake Dotchin said. "I don't know how many more we can really have, to be honest with you. We talk as players without the coaches. We talk with the coaches."

Anaheim's challenge to regroup might include playing without forwards Jakob Silfverberg and Ryan Kesler. Silfverberg exited in the first period after his left leg got tangled up with Detroit defenseman Mike Green along the boards. The next period, Kesler also left the game with a lower-body injury.

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 16: Head coach Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks reacts during the second period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final against the Nashville Predators during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

"It's hard to be critical when you're down to 10 forwards and we're trying to survive," Carlyle said.

John Gibson stopped 22 shots for the Ducks, who haven't won since Dec. 17. Prior to the skid, they had won nine of 10.

Jimmy Howard finished with 23 saves for the Red Wings, who won two straight for the first time in more than a month.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 04: Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Little Caesars Arena on December 04, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Tampa Bay won the game 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

"It's been a long time, so that feels nice, obviously," Nyquist said. "I think we've been trending in the right direction for quite a while, to be honest with you, and not getting the wins. At the same time, it feels like we stand here talking about that and at some point, you've got to prove it. Hopefully, we can use these two wins and build on them."

Detroit tied it 5:25 into the third when Anthony Mantha scored from the right circle, shooting the puck after it bounced off a cross-ice pass from Andreas Athanasiou.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 26: Anthony Mantha #39 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Little Caesars Arena on October 26, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Carlyle could not believe the good break the Red Wings got on the play, as the puck went right to Mantha's stick blade.

"It's like, 'Oh, my God,'" Carlyle said. "How can that just happen?"

The Red Wings went ahead when Nyquist lifted his stick at the left side of the net and tipped in Danny DeKeyser's shot from the slot. Helm's goal with 2:33 remaining gave the Red Wings a two-goal cushion.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 02: Darren Helm #43 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his first period goal with teammates while playing the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena on January 02, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Anaheim got off to a strong start but couldn't sustain it, even against one of the NHL's worst teams.

"We need to create more chances, but it feels like we don't have the confidence to beat the guy we are facing right now," said Rickard Rakell, who deflected a shot past Howard midway through the second period on a power play. "We're playing too much on the outside, which makes us easy to defend, and we're always in a defensive mode, waiting for a mistake."

NOTES: Ducks center Devin Shore, who had a game-high four hits, made his Anaheim debut after being acquired from the Dallas Stars for winger Andrew Cogliano. "He's an NHL player, a smart player," Carlyle said. "He knows his way around the rink and he makes some plays." ... Detroit scratched D Filip Hronek to make room for DeKeyser, who had been out since Dec. 4 with an upper-body injury. Hronek had a goal and four assists in his previous five games.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Play at Minnesota on Thursday, the third stop on a five-game road trip.

Red Wings: Play at Calgary on Friday night, starting an 11-game stretch with eight on the road.

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