DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings faced the team with the fewest points and worst goal differential in the league Wednesday, a club that had won just once on the road and started its backup goalie, who’s struggled.
The Red Wings failed to capitalize.
Ryan O’Reilly and Erik Haula scored 27 seconds apart with less than six minutes remaining in the third period and the Nashville Predators defeated the Red Wings 6-3 at Little Caesars Arena.
Nashville scored five times in the third period against Cam Talbot including another pair of goals in rapid-fire fashion earlier in the period.
The Red Wings dropped to 13-10-1. Nashville got 28 saves from Justus Annunen, and improved to 7-12-4. It was Annunen’s first win (1-3-1).
Alex DeBrincat, James van Riemsdyk and Ben Chiarot scored for the Red Wings.
The third period started with a pair of momentum shifts and three goals in a span of 59 seconds.
Nick Blankenburg broke in alone and scored to tie it at 2-2 at 2:05 before Roman Josi fired in his own rebound from the side of the net at 2:20.
Chiarot tied it at 3-3 when he directed the puck toward the net from the point and it sailed past Elmer Soderblom and Annunen at 3:04.
The Red Wings scored twice on the power play in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.
DeBrincat stepped into a wrist shot from the faceoff circle at 5:30, his 12th of the season and eighth in eight games. Van Riemsdyk snapped a tie at 16:34 when he corralled his own rebound from the crease and lifted in a backhand shot for his second goal in as many games and third of the season.
Nashville led 1-0 after one period after Nick Blankenburg’s shot deflected in off Michael Bunting on the power-play goal at 15:48.
The Red Wings host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday (noon, FanDuel Sports Network).