Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm, left, tries to score but is blocked by Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Ducks center Derek Grant, right, prepares to shoot on goal in front of Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
The Ducks’ Troy Terry battles for the puck against Adam Erne (73) of the Detroit Red Wings and Filip Zadina (11) during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Isac Lundestrom, left, tries to get around Nick Leddy of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Jamie Drysdale tries to get around the stick of Vladislav Namestnikov of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Detroit Red Wings’ Gustav Lindstrom, left, passes the puck away from the Ducks’ Sam Carrick during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Derek Grant tries to stay in front of Tyler Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf, left, checks the Detroit Red Wings’ Tyler Bertuzzi during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Max Comtois loses his footing while trying to get around Filip Hronek of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Troy Terry tries to get around the stick of Jordan Oesterle of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Ducks during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, left, is congratulated by Tyler Bertuzzi (59) after scoring a goal against the Ducks during the first period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Ducks center Sam Steel, right, moves the puck away from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Gustav Lindstrom during the first period of Monday night’s game in Detroit. The Ducks went 3-0-2 on their 10-day trip. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Ducks goaltender John Gibson keeps his eye on the puck during the second period of their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale, right, passes the puck away from Detroit Red Wings center Joe Veleno during the second period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Ducks left wing Rickard Rakell is congratulated by teammates as he returns to the bench after scoring a goal against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek looks to pass against the Ducks during the second period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
The Detroit Red Wings’ Michael Rasmussen, left, tries to control the puck next to the Ducks’ Kevin Shattenkirk during the second period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Detroit Red Wings’ Joe Veleno can’t get a stick on the puck next to Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the second period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill argues a call with a referee during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras tries to get around the stick of the Detroit Red Wings’ Moritz Seider during the third period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras tries to get around the stick of the Detroit Red Wings’ Moritz Seider during the third period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic keeps an eye on the puck and the Ducks’ Max Comtois during the third period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Troy Terry, right, tries to control the puck next to the Detroit Red Wings’ Moritz Seider during the third period on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins watches his team play against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jordan Oesterle passes the puck during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
The Detroit Red Wings’ Tyler Bertuzzi tries to jump past the Ducks’ Hampus Lindholm during overtime on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Detroit Red Wings’ Tyler Bertuzzi tries to jump past the Ducks’ Hampus Lindholm during overtime on Monday night in Detroit. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Detroit Red Wings center Pius Suter, right, prepares to shoot the puck as he is defended by Ducks center Trevor Zegras during overtime on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jordan Oesterle, second from right, is congratulated by teammates Gustav Lindstrom (28), Adam Erne (73), and Robby Fabbri (14) after scoring in overtime to give his team a 2-1 victory over the Ducks on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jordan Oesterle, second from left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring in overtime to give his team a 2-1 victory over the Ducks on Monday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
John Gibson slammed his stick on the ice in anger with the Ducks and Detroit Red Wings locked in an overtime test of wills on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena. A quick whistle from referee Chris Lee had halted play as Gibson attempted to play the puck and set up a possible two-on-one break.
Detroit’s Jordan Oesterle then scored off the ensuing faceoff at 2:11 of the five-minute extra period, and the Red Wings took a 2-1 victory from the Ducks, prompting Gibson to give Lee a death stare as he skated slowly from his crease and toward the dressing room.
The Ducks (23-16-9) banked another point in the standings heading into the 10-day All-Star break, matching the Vegas Golden Knights’ total of 55. Vegas (26-16-3) retained its lead in the Pacific Division because it has three more victories and has played three fewer games, however.
No team has played more games than the Ducks’ total of 48.
No team has been a bigger surprise ahead of the break than the Ducks.
“We’re in a better position than anyone thought we were going to be at this time,” said Ducks coach Dallas Eakins, who stepped behind the bench again after a five-game absence following a positive COVID-19 test on Jan 21. “We’ll come out of the break and get our feet back underneath us.”
What comes next, after Gibson, right wing Troy Terry and rookie center Trevor Zegras return from All-Star Weekend in Vegas, figures to be unlike anything the Ducks have experienced in the past three seasons. Meaningful games actually will be played as the Ducks attempt to return to the playoffs.
“That’s why we play the games, to play important games, and do our best to get into the playoffs where anything can happen,” Ducks right wing Rickard Rakell said. “That’s the most fun. That’s why we’re playing, to have a chance at winning. If you’re not in it, it’s hard and it (stinks).
“It’s going to be a team game going forward (after the break) to make sure we get the points we need. At least we’ve put ourselves in a spot where it’s up to us. If we play well going forward, we’re going to have a chance to make the playoffs. We couldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Gibson’s anger was understandable. He and the Ducks weren’t satisfied with one point. They put themselves in a position to win for the fourth time in five games on their trip. Rakell scored his 10th goal of the season, passing Bobby Ryan for sixth on the Ducks’ all-time list with his 148th career goal.
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The Ducks also received a favorable video review after it appeared Filip Hronek had given the Red Wings a 2-1 lead at 16:11 of the third period. It was then ruled that Hronek had kicked the puck into the net, sending it fluttering over Gibson’s head, and the Ducks were soon headed to OT.
Dylan Larkin gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead, using a burst of speed down the left wing to beat Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and then Gibson with only 38 seconds left in what had been an action-packed first period. The teams skated up and down but didn’t get results.
It took only 2:29 for the Ducks to tie it 1-1 in the second period. Adam Henrique intercepted an errant pass in the neutral zone, skated into the attacking zone and slipped a pass to a trailing Rakell, who then scored his second goal in as many games after a 21-game drought.
“Obviously, (Monday’s game) was a tough loss for us,” Rakell said. “We felt like we could have gotten the two points. Overall, it was a good trip for us. We talked in the locker room that this is the time of the year that we need to step up and get every point we can get in every game.”
