'We can't get frustrated': Wings' skid hits five games in 5-3 loss to Vegas

Las Vegas — The Red Wings continue to search for that elusive win to get them out of this rut.

They knew Saturday's game in Vegas wasn't going to be easy, and it wasn't. Jonathan Marchessault scored his second of the game late in the third period giving Vegas the lead, then added an empty-net goal, his 35th goal to clinch it, giving Vegas the 5-3 victory.

Marchessault put back a puck that bounded off players after Jack Eichel's shot on goaltender James Reimer, making it 4-3 at 17 minutes, 16 seconds. The goal clipped the Wings who had twice rallied to tie the game in the third period.

The Wings lost their fifth consecutive game. This one, though, showing some resilience after a poor outing Friday in Arizona, made the loss hurt even more.

"We were fighting all night," forward David Perron said. "It's not an easy back-to-back but with the performance we put up (Friday) we wanted to come out and definitely fight for each ohter out there. We did that. We stayed in the game all night."

Shayne Gostisbehere's backhander in the slot, after a pair of Knights collided leaving Gostisbehere alone, tied the game 3-3 at 10:44. It was Gostisbehere's 10th goal, making him the 13th Wings player to reach double figures in goals.

BOX SCORE: Golden Knights 5, Red Wings 3

Vegas had just taken the 3-2 lead 37 seconds earlier on Brayden McNabb's goal, deflecting off a pair of Wings.

J.T. Compher tied the game 2-2 with his 16th goal, deflecting Moritz Seider's shot, at 2:44 of the third period.

The Wings outshot Vegas 13-5 in the third period and carried the play mostly. But it wasn't enough.

"To come into this building on a back-to-back and outshoot a team like that 13-5 (in the final 20 minutes) with their lineup, and come up empty, it feels a little empty, disappointing," coach Derek Lalonde said.

Lalonde is hoping that five consecutive periods of improved hockey — the last two periods in Arizona and the entire game against Vegas — is something the Wings can build from.

"We have to continue to get hungry," Lalonde said. "We can't get frustrated. That's five periods of where we've had sustained, good effort. If we can do that, we can have some success going forward."

Michael Rasmussen scored his 13th goal for the Wings (also deflecting a Seider shot), opening the Wings' scoring. Reimer made 31 saves in net.

The Wings (33-25-6, 72 points) slipped into the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot after Tampa (74 points) won its game earlier in the evening. The New York Islanders (70 points) trail the Wings but also have played two less games than the Wings.

The Wings have lost all three games on this road trip, which ends Tuesday in Buffalo.

"Such a great effort by everyone," Seider said. "We came out with a real good gameplan against a real good team. We showed character. That was our best game in the losing streak so far.

"It was a bummer coming out of it with nothing."

Playing in their third game and city in four nights, the Wings were outshot, 19-7, in the first period, but only trailed 2-1.

Pavel Dorofeyev surprised Reimer with a shot from the top of the slot off the rush, Dorofeyev's eighth goal at 9:08. Vegas then took a 2-0 lead on Marchessault's 33rd goal, converting an odd-man rush with Eichel.

Rasmussen gave the Wings a needed lift, deflecting Seider's point shot while falling to the ice with 28 seconds remaining in the first period.

"Huge goal," Lalonde said. "Not only to help the game, but the way we scored. We got a puck to the net and we got a body to the net and got a deflection.

"It's a good lesson for our group in that you have Colorado and this team (Vegas), arguably two of the best lineups in the league and they play a simple game, slice and pound the puck to the net and get bodies to the net. Nothing special, but they have a recipe for success. It's a good lesson for our group."

The Wings welcomed forward Jonatan Berggren into the lineup, recalled from Grand Rapids. Berggren was minus-two in over 12 minutes of ice time.

"Berggy was good," said Lalonde, who wasn't thrilled about Berggren's turnover that led to a Vegas goal. "When we get to this time of year the way hockey is, you can't give plays away. It's a learning lesson."

One lineup change was defenseman Jake Walman slipping out of the lineup, as the Wings returned to a 12 forward-six defensemen look.

"Coach's decision," Lalonde said. "We have seven defensemen, we've lost four in a row, and I liked how Justin (Holl) played for us the other day. Just a coach's decision, and maybe give him (Walman) a little bit of a reset. We had a pretty good performance from our six defensemen tonight."

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

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