Todd McLellan talks about Wednesday’s 4-1 win over the two-time Cup champions.
Todd McLellan talks about Wednesday’s 4-1 win over the two-time Cup champions.
Detroit – Opening night wasn’t pretty, but the Red Wings have looked like a different team since.
The Wings won their third consecutive game Wednesday, a 4-1 victory over Florida.
Mason Appleton had two goals, including an empty-net goal at 18 minutes, 2 seconds, Patrick Kane (power play) and Michael Rasmussen (empty net) added goals and goaltender Cam Talbot stopped 21 shots.
The Wings (3-1-0) began the season with a disappointing 5-1 loss to Montreal, but have since beaten Toronto twice and now the two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers.
“Opening night was a head scratcher but the response says a lot,” said captain Dylan Larkin, who had two assists. “We got challenged right away from day one about being resilient and mentally tough and we’ve shown we’re capable of it. I’ve been impressed with the rebound and our whole lineup, every guy in our room, has responded well.”
What also has been a good sign has been the different ways the Wings have won the three games.
They were dominant in Saturday’s victory against Toronto at Little Caesars Arena, outplaying the Leafs for the majority of the 60 minutes. Then in Toronto Monday, it was largely the goaltending of Talbot and Appleton saving the game with a goal in the waning seconds.
Wednesday, the Wings relied on two timely penalty kills, Talbot with another solid outing, and the Wings’ depth coming through without Lucas Raymond (upper-body).
“We’re definitely building,” said Appleton, who has three goals in the last two games. “You start poorly and get beat by Montreal and from there, you go on a little run wins-wise. But every win has a looked a little different. We liked most of our game tonight, but wins are coming in different ways with guys stepping up.”
Brad Marchand scored Florida’s goal.
Appleton opened the scoring with a similar looking to the one he scored to win Monday’s game in Toronto.
Tumbling to the ice, Appleton managed to snap a shot that beat Bobrovsky at 2:09, giving the Wings a 1-0 second period lead. It was similar to Appleton’s game-winner Monday in Toronto, where he put back a rebound while falling down.
BOX SCORE: Red Wings 4, Panthers 1
Appleton added his third goal on the empty-net goal late in the third period.
“We all like those goals but his presence, he’s played in Winnipeg, he’s been around a (championship caliber) team and his game management skills are real good,” coach Todd McLellan said. “We felt comfortable playing him up there (replacing Raymond on the top line). We heard he could pinch hit and do a good job there and guys are happy for him. He’s fit into our group real well.”
Kane increased the lead to 2-0 with his second goal.
With the Wings enjoying a two-man advantage, Larkin won the faceoff and got the puck to Moritz Seider, who shoveled a pass to Kane. Drifting to the dot, Kane wristed a shot that beat Bobrovsky at 9:36.
The Panthers (3-2-0) sliced the margin in half on Marchand’s third goal at 14:05. The Panthers’ Anton Lundell won the faceoff and Marchand controlled the puck. Marchand wheeled behind the net and converted the wraparound on Talbot, sliding a shot through Talbot’s pads.
But the Wings didn’t fade after Marchand’s goal.
“We did a good job there,” McLellan said. “They had some pressure, they’re going to do that to you, they scored, but we settled down. There was no panic. The next line went out and handled it well.
“When we skate and play with some exuberance, with some pop in our legs and move the puck properly, it’s not always clean, but we’re a better team.”
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
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