Panthers frustrate Wings in 4-0 loss: 'We lost our heads a little bit'

Detroit — Another taste of playoff hockey, another frustrating defeat for the Red Wings.

The Florida Panthers, who appear poised for another run at the Stanley Cup Final, looked every bit the contenders they are Saturday while defeating the Wings 4-0.

Brandon Montour and Sam Reinhart (power play) scored second-period Florida goals, Evan Rodrigues and Carter Verhaeghe (power play) scored in the third period, and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 shots as the Wings dropped a second consecutive game.

"You talk about measuring stick and this is one (game) and we weren't there today," Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. "We had some moments, but that's a pretty good team that was clicking and they were better than us."

When the Wings did have opportunities, Bobrovsky was up to the task. The Wings failed on three power-play chances, and Bobrovsky turned aside Patrick Kane on an odd-man rush with Florida clinging to a 1-0 lead.

"Credit Bob(rovsky), we had some looks with the right guys, too, and he made the right saves at the right time," Lalonde said.

A key part of this game was Florida's aggressiveness and baiting the Wings, arguably, into a style of game the Panthers are better at.

"We have to prepare for that."

BOX SCORE: Panthers 4, Red Wings 0

The Panthers enjoy playing a physical, in-your-face game and they certainly did so against the Wings, with numerous scrums and choice words exchanged. The Wings had 40 minutes worth of penalties called against them, Florida 30 — both teams had four power plays, with Florida converting two into goals — but it appeared the Panthers goaded the Wings into situations that left the Wings shorthanded at key times.

"We lost our heads a little bit during some of those scrums," forward Andrew Copp said. "You saw us get the extra (penalty) pretty much every time and you can't do that against a team that is going to kind of play outside of the whistles a little bit and try to get and bait you into things.

Lalonde wants the Wings to play with similar bite but felt frustration with the game's outcome affected the Wings.

"You want to be able to compete and play with an edge but you have to have your emotions," Lalonde said. "For the most part we were pretty good. A little of our post-play scrums were a bit of frustration on our part in the third (period) and the refs managing the game."

Florida scored goals 4:16 apart in the second period to build a lead.

Montour made it 1-0 at 8:50, skating into the slot and putting back a rebound of Rodrigues' shot. Reinhart made it 2-0, with his 42nd goal, whistling a shot from the hashmarks that rolled up a stick and got past goaltender Alex Lyon.

Rodrigues ended any hope of a Wings comeback with his ninth goal, on a one-timer from the dot.

The Wings' inability to convert on two second-period power plays before Florida exploded offensively was a turning point.

"We had some looks and we had some opportunities and it just didn't go in for us," Lalonde said. "Then the momentum, bang, they score on a rush up the ice and it's 1-0 and they get on their power play and score with two seconds left on it and now you're looking at that team down 2-0.

"If they (the Panthers) win the Stanley Cup, I would not be surprised. In my mind, they are hands down the favorite. They're playing at a high level and tuning up to get their game in order, so you're going to get their best and we did. Everyone is elevating, so we have to elevate also."

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

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