The Detroit Red Wings lost 4-3 to the Florida Panthers on March 11 after losing forward Andrew Copp to a lower-body injury during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Head coach Todd McLellan said Copp is being evaluated and is doubtful for the next game against Tampa Bay.
The outcome matters for Detroit as they try to maintain momentum in a competitive season, especially while dealing with injuries to key players. The team had multiple leads but could not hold off two late goals by Carter Verhaeghe of the Panthers, leaving them without any points from the game.
Goaltender John Gibson made 22 saves for Detroit, while Daniil Tarasov stopped 25 shots for Florida. Patrick Kane scored his tenth goal of the season, and Justin Faulk netted his first as a Red Wing since joining from St. Louis before the trade deadline. Marco Kasper also contributed with his seventh goal of the year. “A lot of ups and downs tonight,” Kane said. “A lot of things going on with injuries and guys missing shifts. Not your usual game, a little bit chaotic, but I thought a lot of guys stepped up and did a great job.” Kasper added, “We just got to make sure we close the game out. We definitely could’ve gotten a point, so really frustrating we lost that game.”
McLellan addressed how Faulk has adapted quickly: “Twelve years [in the NHL] and a lot of experience, but he should be able to fit in quickly… definitely give him credit for adapting quickly and for the guys working with him on the bench.” He also commented on managing late-game situations: “When you’re the last guy back with a forest in front of you, that puck has to find a way to at least gain the blue line… we kind of fumbled on it and it ended up in the back of our net.” Kane described it as “a tough finish” while Kasper emphasized learning from close losses: “Moving forward, we got to do those things.”
The Red Wings are one of six original teams in the National Hockey League and have won 11 Stanley Cup championships according to their official website. They play their home games in downtown Detroit and represent Detroit, Michigan according to their official website. The franchise is recognized as one of the top-performing American teams in league history according to their official website.
Looking ahead, McLellan said it will be important for other players to step up: “It’s a big ask, but nobody is feeling sorry for the Red Wings and nobody in the locker room should feel sorry,” he said. “We have a job to do.” The team will face Tampa Bay Lightning next.
