The Detroit Red Wings saved the worst for last. In their last game of the season, where only pride was at stake, the Red Wings gave up a season-high eight goals.<\/p>\n
The 8-1 loss to the Panthers <\/a>was embarrassing, even for a team that collapsed down the stretch when they once had a commanding lead to qualify for the playoffs.<\/p>\n When Detroit coach Todd McLellan was asked about Detroit\u2019s effort after the game, he said he didn\u2019t want to answer the question.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell you that both teams came in with nothing on the line, and you can see their championship pedigree,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cSo I\u2019m going to compliment the Panthers. It runs throughout the organization. They came and they played, and that meant something to them. \u201c<\/p>\n What made it worse is that the Panthers are a team decimated by injuries to most of their stars. The Florida defense last night didn\u2019t include a single player who was on the Florida roster last June when they won their second consecutive Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n As Ken Daniels pointed out during the broadcast, they Panthers were using a younger lineup, not deep in NHL experience. One of the defensemen was Donovan Sebrango, a former Red Wings draft pick. The Panthers claimed him on waivers.<\/p>\n The Panthers, also a non-playoff team this season, performed like the game mattered. The Red Wings did not. The Red Wings had surrendered six goals three times this season, seven once, but never eight until the 82nd game.<\/p>\n The Red Wings were playing without captain Dylan Larkin who has been playing hurt for a good while. <\/p>\n One of the primary issues with the Red Wings is the lack of a winning culture, the understanding of how to rachet up their effort at key times, how to dig deep when it\u2019s needed. It comes down to knowing how to win games they need to win. <\/p>\n Even in their last game of the season, they couldn\u2019t muster the effort needed to make it a competitive game. <\/p>\n Red Wings In Case You Missed It<\/p>\n Bob Duff explains why the Red Wings have to persuade Patrick Kane<\/a> to stay with the team.<\/p>\n Odds are favorable that the Red Wings are only giving up the No. 15 pick in the Justin Faulk trade.<\/a><\/p>\n Red Wings Extra<\/p>\n The Grand Rapids Griffins beat the Iowa Wild 5-2 to reach the 50-win mark for the first time since 2005-06. Amadeus Lombardi and Ondrej Becher scored for the Griffins to support Michal Postava\u2019s 24-save effort. Dylan James and Kienan Draper made their AHL debuts but neither figured into the scoring. They were both plus-1. Shai Buium and Eddie Genborg had assists. . . Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Carter Mazur, Axel Sandin Pellikka and Dominik Shine are expected to play for Grand Rapids in the playoffs. <\/p>\n Hockey Now Digest<\/p>\n Boston: How Marco Sturm needed only one season to guide the Bruins back to the playoffs. Boston Bruins.<\/a><\/p>\n Florida: George Richards explains how the Panthers can return to the good times quickly. Florida Panthers. <\/a><\/p>\n