Red Wings fumble into 2nd straight loss aftter Anaheim breaks tie with 3 goals in 3rd

The Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf (15) is knocked off the puck by the Red Wings' Damien Brunner during the first period.

DETROIT — It was a game of turnovers. The Detroit Red Wings made them and the Anaheim Ducks took advantage.

Andrew Cogliano and Bobby Ryan scored less than a minute apart early in the third period, and Cogliano added an empty-net goal in Anaheim's 5-2 victory Friday night.

Viktor Fasth made 26 saves to become the first goalie in seven years to win his first seven career starts. The 30-year-old Fasth is considered a first-year player and not a rookie by the NHL because he is older than 25.

"He's been our most valuable player," Ryan said. "He has come in and given us a chance to win every game. He's a true professional."

Cogliano snapped a 2-all tie just 1:02 into the third and Ryan connected 48 seconds later. Both goals were the result of neutral-zone turnovers by Red Wings defensemen.

Niklas Kronwall turned it over on Cogliano's goal, and Ian White committed the gaffe on Ryan's tally — his second turnover of the game that led to a goal.

"When they do make mistakes, you have to make sure you capitalize," said Cogliano, who capped the scoring outburst with his fourth goal of the season at 18:11.

Matt Beleskey and Corey Perry each had a goal and an assist for Anaheim, which won its third straight and seventh in eight games. Ryan Getzlaf added two assists.

Joakim Andersson got his first career goal and added an assist, and Tomas Tatar also scored for Detroit, which was without top-six forwards Pavel Datsyuk (bruised shoulder) and Johan Franzen, who missed his second game because of a sore hip flexor. Jimmy Howard stopped 33 shots.

"It was two turnovers that ended up in our net. It was tough. I think we, until that time, played a good game," Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "We battled good the first period and took over the game in the second. We felt good going out for the third but unfortunately those two quick ones kind of killed the game."

Cogliano and Ryan scored 48 seconds apart early in the third period.

Cogliano tipped in a pass from Saku Koivu off a give-and-go play, and Ryan fired in his own rebound for his fifth goal at 1:50.

Perry capitalized on a turnover in the Detroit zone by putting in his own rebound 7:32 into the second period to tie the score at 2. White fanned on a pass from behind his own net and the puck went to Beleskey, who made a cross-slot pass to Perry.

Tatar's power-play goal gave Detroit a 2-1 lead 6:32 into the middle period. He put in a rebound for his second goal, both in the last two games.

Andersson opened the scoring 3:01 into the second by beating Fasth from the bottom of the right circle. Beleskey tied it 26 seconds later with his second goal. He beat Howard with a snap shot from the slot.

The first period was scoreless as Anaheim outshot the Red Wings 14-6.

Former captain Lidstrom enjoys retirement

Nicklas Lidstrom walked into Joe Louis Arena this week for the first time as a retired defenseman and acknowledged it was a little odd.

"It's different walking in here and coming into this locker room when you're not a player anymore," Lidstrom said Friday after the Red Wings practice Friday. "You're used to sitting in your stall, used to getting dressed and putting gear on. It's a different feeling, but it's good to be back in here again."

The seven-time Norris Trophy winner insisted he has no regrets about choosing to end his NHL career last May following his 20th season with the Red Wings.

The 42-year-old Lidstrom could still be playing, making several million dollars a year. Lidstrom turned down a chance to return for another year, and after the lockout ended he rebuffed an opportunity to resume his career during the 48-game season.

"If you come back and play in a shortened season it's easier, even though it's a lot more intense," he said. "But you have to stay in shape to be able to play at this level, so even if I knew there was going to be a lockout, my decision was already made."

Lidstrom is enjoying a slower pace in life with his wife and children back home in Sweden, where he is an assistant coach for his 12-year-old son's hockey team and occasionally scouts prospects.

"Just the everyday of being home with the family, helping out with kids' practices and taking them to school in the morning, picking them up in the afternoon," he said. "Just the everyday things you weren't around for in the past. Being able to travel — with the family."