TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs have been known to give up third-period goals. They have had two-goal leads disappear in the third period seven times this season, and it looked as if it could happen again Tuesday night.

This time, though, the Maple Leafs held off the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 to end a five-game losing streak.

The Red Wings never recovered from being down 2-0 less than seven minutes into the game and then 3-0 before they scored their first goal in the final minute of the second period.

Alexey Marchenko, James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri each scored a goal for Toronto. Mitch Marner and Tyler Bozak added two assists each for the Maple Leafs (29-22-14).

"I thought we really skated good," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "I thought we really took it to them and then we won the faceoff and turned it over at the end of the second and gave up one right at the start of the third and here we are again.

"We've been here before and we've all seen it. When you have a -- some people may think this is an excuse, I don't think this is an excuse at all -- when you have a veteran group who has been through it before, someone goes out and calms everyone down and just makes a play. We don't. ... It's like a feeding frenzy. So as much as we talk about it, not a whole lot happens."

Gustav Nyquist scored two goals and Henrik Zetterberg added two assists for the Red Wings (25-28-11), who lost their third game in a row.

"We find ourselves chasing in a lot of games," Nyquist said. "I think we had our chances throughout the game, but, again, we've got to manage the puck better.

"It would be nice to score the first goal for sure so you don't chase all the time. But we showed character and made it real close, but it's not good enough."

Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen made 22 stops and Petr Mrazek had 25 saves for Detroit.

"Obviously, we got off to a good start and that always gets confidence up for the rest of the game," Bozak said. "We wanted to come out as a line and play good and help the team win. We didn't do a good enough job in Anaheim (a 5-2 loss to the Ducks), so it was nice to have a game like that."

The Maple Leafs lead the season series 3-0 with one game remaining between the teams.

"The two even-strength goals, we had the puck on our stick and gave it away," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "We had easy opportunities to advance the puck and we didn't. This team has shown lots of character all year in terms of staying with it and continuing to grind, but we need a little more out of more people."

Bolstered by a goal in the final minute of the second period, the Red Wings cut the Maple Leafs' lead to 3-2 only 36 seconds into the third period on Nyquist's second goal of the game and his ninth of the season.

Marchenko, who was claimed off waivers from Detroit on Feb. 4, gave the Maple Leafs the lead at 1:07 of the first period when he pounced on a rebound in the slot to notch his first goal of the season. Marner and Bozak both forced saves, leaving Marchenko with an open goal.

The Maple Leafs took a 2-0 lead on the 20th goal of the season by van Riemsdyk from the edge of the crease at 6:38 of the first period on a power play. Niklas Kronwall was serving a holding penalty.

It ended a 14-game goal drought by van Riemsdyk.

"I wasn't sure how many it was, but thank you for that," he said. "I thought I was getting some good chances and I was happy with the overall process of my game and that sort of thing.

"Obviously, the production goal-scoring wise wasn't there and I'm relied upon to contribute in that way. It feels nice to get that one."

Kadri scored his 27th goal of the season from the right faceoff circle at 5:49 of the second period, and the Maple Leafs led 3-0.

Nyquist flipped a backhand behind Andersen at 19:22 of the second period to put Detroit on the board.

"We give them speed, we give them chances, we give them the puck," Zetterberg said. "We can't do that because they really feed on turnovers."

NOTES: Detroit D Ryan Sproul could be out for the rest of the season with an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. When the swelling subsides in 10 to 14 days, a determination will be made if surgery will be required. Sproul was injured in the second period Saturday in a loss to the Edmonton Oilers. D Robbie Russo was called up from AHL Grand Rapids to replace him, and he made his NHL debut. ... Detroit RW Gustav Nyquist was able to play after an illness kept him out of practice Monday. ... The teams will meet for the fourth and final time this season on April 1 at Detroit. ... The Maple Leafs are home to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. The Red Wings visit the Boston Bruins on Wednesday to complete a five-game road trip.