Detroit Red Wings

Five Takeaways: Red Wings Thumped By Panthers To Complete Lost Weekend

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2022

Bob Duff

Captain Dylan Larkin said the Red Wings 'didn't respond' after falling behind to the Florida Panthers.

There’s a lot to unpack from the latest loss suffered by the Detroit Red Wings. Some of it, though, it must be said, is old, familiar baggage.

Sunday’s 6-1 home-ice loss to the Florida Panthers completed a lost weekend for the Wings. They were blanked 4-0 on Saturday by the New York Rangers.

Five takeaways from the most recent Detroit debacle.

Well, That Was Quick

So often this season, the Red Wings are surrendering goals in rapid fashion. It was happening again Sunday – twice.

Ninety seconds after Anthony Duclair opened the scoring for Florida 5:02 in the second period, Sam Reinhart made it 2-0. And just 28 seconds after Anton Lundell put the Panthers up 3-0, Maxim Mamin added a fourth Florida goal.

“We didn’t respond,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “They got two quick, three quick and we didn’t respond, we didn’t get back at them.”

Four Score (And Often More) On The Red Wings

Sunday’s four-goal second-period outburst was marking the 12th time this season that Detroit has coughed up a minimum of four goals in a single frame.

The Wings also surrendered their 10th shorthanded goal of the season. As well, they allowed five or more goals in a game for the 30th time.

Anton Lundell with a Shorthanded Goal vs. Detroit Red Wingshttps://t.co/oJwZqTF3Md

— VCP Hockey (@VCP_Hockey) April 17, 2022

“Those are huge momentum swings,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said of the second-period collapse. “It takes the energy out of the building. Had we been able to score on some of our chances you get some energy in the building, but for sure, all the energy at that point is out.

“And obviously it’s huge energy draining on the shorthanded goal.”

Defensive Shortcomings Abound

Sunday’s setback truly was a team effort. Every single one of Detroit’s 18 skaters finished the game with a minus rating. Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider was a game-worst -3.

Defensive shortcomings were easy to spot. On Florida’s opening goal, Detroit winger Tyler Bertuzzi was slow on the track back. Pius Suter allowed Reinhart to get behind him on the second goal. Joe Veleno did likewise on Mamin’s tally. Defenseman Jake Walman was easily bumped off the puck behind the Detroit net by Mason Marchment to start the play leading to Lundell’s 3-0 goal.

“We have to consistently keep working at not … we’re never going to be perfect defensively but being better defensively,” Blashill said.

Suter Ties Career High

One of the rare bright spots for the Wings on the afternoon was the team’s first goal in two games. Jakub Vrana faked a shot and quickly passed across to Suter, who made no mistake on the finish.

NHL Video Highlight – Pius Suter scores against the Florida Panthers to make it 5-1. pic.twitter.com/ptsXbsOAWs

— Florida Panthers Game Bot (@FLPanthersBot) April 17, 2022

Already with a career-high in points (33), Suter’s goal tied the career-high 14 he netted last season for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Suter, Seider and rookie forward Lucas Raymond are the only Red Wings to play all 76 games this season.

Red Wings Recall Barber

Prior to the game, the Wings were opting to exchange defense for offense in the forward designated to replace the ailing Oscar Sundqvist in the lineup.

Chase Pearson was returned to AHL Grand Rapids and Riley Barber was recalled from the Griffins. Barber played his third game of the season for Detroit. He is currently on a 12-game point streak (9-6-15) with Grand Rapids.