Wings collapse in third period, lose to Washington, 5-2

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Mar 7, 2025

Published in Hockey

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — For all the doom and gloom from fans regarding Friday's trade deadline, the game against Washington didn't improve Red Wings' fans' mood.

Washington exploded for four goals early in the third period leading to a 5-2 victory over the Red Wings. The defeated extended the Wings' losing streak to five games.

Aliaksei Protas and Jakob Chychrun scored 1 minute 6, seconds apart early in the third period, erasing a 2-1 Wings lead, then Protas scored again at 5:17, his 25th goal, giving the Capitals a 4-2 advantage Tom Wilson capped the explosion with his 29th goal, at 9:19, on a shorthanded breakaway.

Dylan Larkin (26th goal) and Moritz Seider (power play, 6th goal) gave the Wings a 2-0 lead early in the first period. But the energy they brought at the game's start, after a loss at Little Caesars Arena 24 hours earlier against Utah, couldn't be sustained.

Taylor Raddysh's sixth goal, at 18:39, cut the Wings' lead 2-1 late in the first period and gave the Capitals hope.

The Wings (30-26-6) remained a point away from tying Ottawa for a wildcard spot, but now also have played at least one more game than every team around them in the chase for a wildcard spot. And the five-game losing streak, along with winning only twice in the last nine games (2-6-1) doesn't help.

The Wings play Monday in Ottawa, in what amount to possibly the most important game of the season to date.

Goaltender Cam Talbot made 23 saves for the Wings. Talbot and Alex Lyon will be joined by goaltender Petr Mrazek, as the Wings' go the three-goaltender route the rest of the season after acquiring Mrazek and forward Craig Smith from Chicago for forward Joe Veleno, the only move the Wings' made before Friday's trade deadline.

After Thursday's loss, Larkin stated his case for keeping the Wings together and staying focused on making the playoffs. There was a little chance of Yzerman trading away players, as earlier in the rebuild, but with prices outlandishly high, there was a small possibility.

If not being an active buyer, Larkin wanted this Wings roster to at least stick together for the remainder of the season

"I feel like we've made a case to continue to push this thing and keep playing for the playoffs and get in," Larkin said.

And as disappointing as Thursday's loss to Utah was, the game against the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals was an opportunity to rebound.

"You have to play, you can't be looking outside," Larkin said. "We're not going to get into the playoffs with 66 points. You have to show up to the rink, have to play the game and win hockey games to get into the playoffs. You can't scoreboard watch and hope it happens.

"We have a chance (Friday) to right the ship and get that win and hopefully build off it."

The Wings are going through their first real test under coach Todd McLellan. But McLellan said after Thursday's game the roster had a strong "belief system, despite the losing streak.

"We were able to build it up (during win streaks) and now we're really getting tested. We went on the trip to (Florida, Tampa, Dallas, Philadelphia and went 1-2-1) and came back and got tested then. We responded well. Now we're in deeper in whatever you want to call it then we were then.

"We're getting tested but the group is capable of playing well and winning. We just have to find a way to get it done."

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