DETROIT — In a Sunday night game, Alex DeBrincat and J.T. Compher each scored in the second period, while goalie Cam Talbot stopped 32 shots, securing a 2-1 victory for the Detroit Red Wings against the Florida Panthers. This win keeps Detroit`s chances of making the playoffs alive, though their path remains challenging.
The Panthers attempted a late rally, pulling their goalie to add an extra attacker. Anton Lundell scored with just under 40 seconds left, narrowing the score, but it wasn`t enough to overcome the Red Wings` lead.
With only six games left in the regular season, Detroit is striving to secure a wild-card spot and end their nine-year absence from the playoffs.
The Florida Panthers, the reigning champions who are currently facing player shortages, have now lost five consecutive games, marking their longest losing streak since 2017.
After a slow start in the first period, DeBrincat opened the scoring with a power-play goal, his 35th of the season. Compher then extended Detroit`s lead to 2-0 later in the second period.
For the Panthers, Vitek Vanecek made 22 saves, filling in for Sergei Bobrovsky, who rested after playing the previous night in a 3-0 loss to Ottawa.
Despite a strong push in the final moments, the Panthers were unable to get the puck past Talbot to tie the game.
Key Takeaways:
Panthers: Having already clinched a playoff berth on Saturday, the Panthers are hoping that star forward Matthew Tkachuk will recover in time to play. Tkachuk has been sidelined since February 15 due to an injury sustained while playing for the United States in the 4 Nations Tournament.
Red Wings: A four-game point streak, including three wins, has kept the Red Wings` minimal playoff hopes within reach.
Turning Point:
Early in the second period, DeBrincat missed a clear scoring opportunity but capitalized on another chance during the same shift to score the game`s first goal.
Goaltending Heroics:
Talbot was crucial in the first period, denying 10 Florida shots and ensuring the game remained scoreless until Detroit`s second-period goals.
Looking Ahead:
The Panthers will host Toronto on Tuesday, while the Red Wings will travel to Montreal the same night. Detroit will aim to close the gap in the Eastern Conference wild-card race in their upcoming game.
