You knew this might be an awfully difficult evening, and it certainly was for the Red Wings.
On the back end of a two-game trip to Florida, against two great teams, the final game on a seven-game stretch against seven elite teams — well, it all culminated in a 6-2 Red Wings’ loss in Florida against the Panthers.
The Panthers (37-13-5) had the NHL’s best offense leading into this game, averaging 4.06 goals per game, and it was in full attack in this game.
“After the first (period) I didn’t think we won any stick battles, physical battles, so when you do that they’re just going to skate through you and they skated through us too much,” coach Jeff Blashill said.
Florida led 3-1 after the first period, two power-play goals igniting the Panthers, and led 6-1 after 40 minutes as the rout was on.
BOX SCORE: Panthers 6, Red Wings 2
Robby Fabbri (16th goal) and Tyler Bertuzzi (24th goal) scored the lone Wings’ goals. For Fabbri it was his 16th and second in two games, having scored the lone goal in Tampa the night before.
But unlike the night before in Tampa, the Wings had few quality scoring opportunities and simply were too quiet over long stretches of the game.
“We gave up two power-play goals and basically close to a shorthanded goal, we have to do a better job in our specialty teams,” Blashill said. “We have to make sure we do a better job of when we get down, to find a way to find our way back in it.
“I felt like as it went along, our compete level disappeared and that simply can’t happen with our hockey team.”
Thomas Greiss got the start in net, but was pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots. Alex Nedeljkovic finished up.
Rookie Anton Lundell had two goals (one a power play), leading the Panthers’ barrage. Mason Marchment, Anthony Duclair (power play), Sam Bennett and Lucas Carlsson added goals, while goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots.
More: Red Wings too often trying to make extra pass when they should be shooting
“We need to be better in a lot of areas,” forward Sam Gagner said. “Forecheck better, break out of our end better, compete harder on pucks. There’s a lot that went wrong.
“They’re a deep team. They play fast, their defense really moves the puck and their forwards can create a lot of offense. They play with pace, and in order to negate that you have to spend more time in their end.
“We have to play with more pace and we have to make decisions quick and we didn’t do that enough. It’s certainly a learning experience and we have to keep growing.”
The Wings’ penalty kill was tested on this short trip and didn’t respond. They allowed five power-play goals, and have allowed six in the last three games.
“We have to be better there,” Gagner said. “We have to do a better job of limiting opportunities by staying out of the box and when we have opportunities to get the puck out, we have to make sure they get out.”
The Wings (24-26-6) lost five of seven games while facing the super seven since Feb. 14. The Wings lost to Minnesota, Colorado, Toronto, Tampa and Florida — while defeating the New York Rangers (in a shootout) and Carolina (overtime).
“We have work to do to be among those types of teams,” Blashill said.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan
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