The Detroit Red Wings have now lost nine of their last 12 and five straight after dropping Monday night's contest to the Washington Capitals, 5-3.
The Caps, who are currently fighting for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference, scored three goals in the first period, two coming off the stick of Alex Ovechkin on the power play.
Detroit scored five minutes into the second period on a power play goal of their own, but fell back behind three goals after Keith Aucoin wristed one past Jimmy Howard with only a couple minutes left in the period.
In the third, Todd Bertuzzi scored less than a minute into the period and Danny Cleary got the Wings within a goal with eight minutes left to provide some hope. Unfortunately, the Red Wings couldn't get anymore past Braden Holtby, who was playing in just his second game this season, and the Caps put in an empty netter with half a minute left to seal it.
Detroit will head to New York to play the Eastern's first place Rangers on Wednesday.
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