Panthers Rally Late
Carter Verhaeghe scored two goals in the final 90 seconds to rally the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. “The Wings let a third-period lead slip away in the final 90 seconds and wound up losing, 4-3, to the defending Stanley Cup champions,” noted a source following the game.
The game, held at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, showcased a fierce competition between the two teams. The Red Wings had taken a 3-2 lead, thanks to a go-ahead goal from Marco Kasper, but the Panthers responded dramatically in the closing moments.
With just 1.5 minutes remaining, Verhaeghe scored the equalizer, followed by a winning goal with only 14.8 seconds left on the clock. This late-game performance marked a significant turnaround for the Panthers, who were without their two leading scorers, Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart.
In addition to the loss, the Red Wings faced another setback when Andrew Copp left the game with a left leg injury after becoming tangled with Tomas Nosek. “Copp was hurt on that play when he became tangled up with Tomas Nosek, who fell on Copp’s left leg,” reported sources.
Despite the defeat, the Red Wings saw Justin Faulk score his first goal with the team, adding a bright spot to an otherwise disappointing night. The loss dropped the Red Wings into a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 36-22-7.
The Panthers improved their record to 31-29-3, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity. This victory comes after the Red Wings had previously lost to the Panthers 3-1 at home on March 6, 2026.
Looking ahead, the Red Wings will face the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 12, 2026, while the Panthers will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on the same day. Both teams will aim to build on their respective performances as the season progresses.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the extent of Copp’s injury, but his absence could impact the Red Wings’ lineup in their upcoming games.
