Detroit — The Red Wings let another late lead slip away Sunday, but this time survived it.

Patrick Kane scored his second goal of the game at the 4-minute mark of overtime, and after the Ducks narrowly missed scoring on the other end, giving the Wings a 5-4 victory.

Marco Kasper battled to get possession of the puck after the Ducks failed to convert, then found Kane for a breakaway for Kane’s 14th career overtime game-winning goal.

“You see it a lot in overtime where if there’s a chance one way and they don’t score, it’s usually going to come back the other way,” Kane said. “Mo (Seider) and Marco did a great job of battling there and getting the puck up to me, seeing me right away, too, behind the defense.

“It’s nice to get that one. A little better feeling than (Saturday) and get the two points. But definitely have to learn from those situations.”

Anaheim scored twice with the goaltender pulled late in the third period, pulling even 4-4. Olen Zellweger scored on a shot from the high slot at 17:44 of the third period, and Cutter Gauthier scored his second goal of the game, on a backhander, tying the game at 4 with 52.5 seconds left in regulation.

BOX SCORE: Red Wings 5, Ducks 4 (OT)

Minnesota did likewise the day before, then scored in overtime to win the game. From that perspective, attempting to defend a late lead, it was a weekend from which the Wings can learn some things.

“We’re happy with the win,” coach Todd McLellan said. “We got into a situation similar to (Saturday) where the last three or four minutes, we have to play six-on-five and it was pretty evident we have to do a better job. All six guys, the three forwards, two defensemen and the goaltender have to do a better job.

“We need to be better.”

The Wings iced the puck three times late and missed Kane open by himself in the Anaheim zone. The chances were there to put the game away, and the Wings must learn from that.

“We pushed fairly hard in the third period but we couldn’t find that fifth one both nights,” McLellan said. “We couldn’t find the dagger. We threw a lot of darts but couldn’t hit the target and it came back to push us to the limit. We got three out of four points but we’re not happy we gave the one up and we have work to do.”

The Wings got three power-play goals, from Alex DeBrincat, Kane and J.T. Compher, as they ended a mild two-game winless streak (0-1-1).

For two teams that only play each other twice during the season, there was some animosity. Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras elbowed Michael Rasmussen in the head in the second period, which led to a testy scrum between the teams to end the second period.

Rasmussen did not return to begin the third period.

“He didn’t return and is still getting checked,” McLellan said. “When a player gets a blow to the head and doesn’t return it’s never a good sign but we’ll see how he is (Monday). He seems to be in fairly good spirits, at least when I wandered by him. He’s not happy about it, but he’s in fairly good spirits and he’s happy for the team.”

The Wings were already without forward Andrew Copp (upper-body), who was hurt Saturday and didn’t play against Anaheim. McLellan said Copp won’t be ready for Tuesday’s game in Minnesota.

The victory gave the Wings (29-22-6) possession of the first of two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.

Goaltender Alex Lyon stopped 24 shots in the victory. Kasper opened the scoring for the Wings.

Ryan Strome had the other goal for Anaheim (25-24-7).

The Wings came out flying in the first period. Kasper scored his 10th goal at 3:11 of the first period, as Raymond’s pass bounced off Kasper’s skate as he was cruising though the slot.

The Wings then capitalized on the power play, after Anaheim was whistled for two tripping penalties on the same play.

DeBrincat scored his 26th goal at 4:29, and Kane scored his 13th at 5:06, whistling a shot from the high slot past befuddled goalie Lukas Dostal.

Strome cut the lead to 3-1 at 5:24 of the first period, getting a rebound past Lyon. But Compher restored the three-goal lead putting back a rebound, on the power play, at 2:14 of the second period.

Gauthier’s goal cut the Wings lead to 4-2 midway in the second period, but the Wings staved off quality Anaheim scoring chances later in the period.

The Wings appeared to be headed to a relatively quiet regulation time victory, then saw Anaheim score the two late goals.

“We played a solid game in the third period, we had real good chances and stayed away from all the scrums and did a real good job,” Seider said. “We just have to find a way to eliminate those empty net chances. Just a little more composure and try to get the puck out as quick as possible, be in the shooting lanes at all times.

“We got the two points tonight but we’ll learn and analyze and get better.”

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan

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