The Detroit Red Wings looked to get back to their winning ways on Sunday night against the Florida Panthers. Petr Mrazek took over for Jimmy Howard in net for Detroit, while the offense was still without top performer Thomas Vanek. Backup goalie James Reimer started in net for the Panthers, who were also coming off a shutout loss.
1st Period
6 minutes in Alexey Marchenko takes a hooking penalty and 12 seconds into the penalty Vincent Trocheck centers the puck to Colton Sceviour and he taps it in past Mrazek. Panthers up 1-0.
Sceviour finds himself in front of the net and buries the puck past Mrazek just 23 seconds after the power play goal and the Panthers are up by 2.
Red Wings get a power play on an Alex Petrovic interference. Nothing happens with for the Wings, but Andreas Athanasiou received some time on the power play with Sheahan and Larkin.
Florida breaks in 2v1 and a brilliant saucer pass from Denis Malgin finds Jonathan Marchessault who buries it over the shoulder of Mrazek. 3-0 Panthers.
Lifeless, spunkless, pizzazzless, I don’t know how to describe it but the Wings are in a spot of bother. A pitiful first period followed up an awful game the night before. The Wings are getting beat to the puck all over the ice and can not generate quality chances. Not pretty, but still 40 minutes to turn change the narrative of this game.
After 1
Shots: Panthers 8 – Wings 7
Score: Panthers 3 – Wings 0
2nd Period
Wings start out flying and controlled pressure in the offensive zone results in Keith Yandle chipping the puck over the glass for a Detroit power play. Wings get chances on the power play and Larkin snaps one home with 18 seconds left on the penalty. Athanasiou looked very good playing the slot on the advantage. First power play goal in 21 chances. 3-1 Panthers.
This is the team we like to see. Detroit possessing the puck and finally getting to stretch their legs.
Just as Detroit looks to be climbing back in the game, Trocheck catches Mrazek off angle for the 4th Panthers goal. Jimmy Howard enters the game. 4-1 Panthers.
Detroit keeps pushing after the 4th Panthers goal. Darren Helm has a breakaway but mishandles the puck and doesn’t get a shot on net.
Green gets called for a cross check away from the play when it looked like both players were whacking each other. A point shot from Yandle is easily handled by Howard and the Wings kill of the penalty.
Another power play opportunity for Detroit as Ekblad hauls down Athanasiou. The man advantage is looking better, but it would really help to win some faceoffs while on the power play. Sceviour knocks the puck off Larkin’s stick and it results in a 2v1 shorthanded goal for Sceviour, a hat trick for him, 5-1 Panthers. Last Panther to score a hat trick… you guessed in Tomas Kopecky in 2013.
In the closing seconds of the second, Athanasiou almost slides one under Reimer, but no luck. Detroit created opportunities and looked much better throughout the second, but Florida is the one capitalizing on opportunities and they expand their lead.
After 2
Shots: Panthers 18 – Wings 26
Score: Panthers 5 – Wings 1
3rd Period
The bright spot in Detroit sports today seems to be Andre Drummond making some free throws. So that is cool. Anyways back to hockey.
2 minutes into the period Helm gets penalized for a high-sticking double minor. Florida forces one big save from Howard, but the penalty expires without more damage being done. Athanasiou has a very strong shift on the kill and adds to his impressive performance today.
Reimer turns the puck over and it leads to a few chances for the Wings, but nothing comes of it.
Hey my old junior coach Craig Furstenau was interviewed by Trevor Thompson. Cool.
Sceviour amazingly does something negative and takes a penalty. Brendan Smith scores a top shelf power play goal on a nice pass from Frans Nielsen. 5-2 Panthers.
Wings string together some very positive shifts after the goal. They control the puck for extended periods of time in the Florida zone.
4 minutes left and down 3, the Wings opt for a 6v4 after an Ekblad penalty. Athanasiou and Larkin keep up the good team work and create chances on the advantage. 6v4 turns to a 6v5 and time eventually winds down on this game.
Final
Shots: Panthers 24 – Wings 36
Score: Panthers 5 – Wings 2
Final Thoughts
The Red Wings power play looked much better. Larkin and Athanasiou provided a spark for the unit and hopefully they can build on that going forward.
Mrazek is the starter. Not time for a goalie controversy. Howard has been playing well and he will push Mrazek to be better and improve. There can be a healthy competition between the two, but it should stay Mrazek’s net for the time being.
Two rough home losses are discouraging, but after 10 games the team is over .500 and that is a real positive after starting 0-2.
Detroit will look to end the losing streak Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Go Wings!
