The Florida Panthers sent a clear message to other teams on the Bettman Tour at the trade deadline and haven’t lost since. On Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings became their 10th consecutive victim, losing 6-1 at Little Caesars Arena.
• Read also: The Blues in the head of the Wild?
Since March 22, the deadline for trades in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Florida team has a 12-1-0 record. Recall that general manager Bill Zito paid the big price to obtain the services of Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot.
In the duel of the day, the Panthers waited for the middle period to get their claws out. Quebecer Anthony Duclair, who is having his best season of his career, took advantage of a long pass from Aleksander Barkov to unleash a violent one-timer throw and register his 31st of the campaign.
Andrew Brunette’s squad didn’t seem satisfied, as Sam Reinhart found the back of the net 90 seconds later. His precise breakaway shot gave Alex Nedeljkovic no chance.
The Wings goalkeeper had better games, he who flinched six times in 39 attempts. On the other side of the rink, Spencer Knight was intractable between the Florida posts with 33 saves. Only a shot from Pius Suter resulting in a three against one debunked it late in the game.
The Panthers’ successful second period continued late in the frame, as Anton Lundell and Maxim Mamin scored within 28 seconds, putting the game out of Michigan’s reach.
Lundell added in the third period, taking advantage of a skillful delivery from Barkov from behind on the penalty kill, while the Panthers captain was hooked by Moritz Seider. Gustav Forsling finished the job of demolishing his own with a powerful strike from the point.
The Panthers now have a 10-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs and second in the Atlantic Division.