Verhaeghe scores twice in final 1:30, Panthers stun Red Wings

Vinnie Hinostroza had a goal and an assist in his first game since being traded Friday from the Minnesota Wild to the Panthers (32-29-3), who have won two straight, both against the Red Wings. Tkachuk had two assists, and Tarasov made 25 saves. 

Before winning 3-1 at Detroit on Friday, Florida had lost nine of 11 games. The Panthers are 11 points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 18 games remaining for each team.

“We have one job and it’s not to figure out where we finish in the standings. It’s to handle your day,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “The best that we can do is come out, have respect for the game and for each other. And, you know, hope for a miracle, I guess. With the guys out, we know that’s going to be a challenge. But we still have to be pros, and we have to almost honor the Florida Panther game. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Faulk had a goal and an assist in his second game with his new team, and Kane and Marco Kasper also scored for the Red Wings (36-22-7), who have lost four of six. John Gibson made 24 saves.

“We have a job to do and the first thing we have to do is recover from this loss,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “Then we have to figure out how to plug some holes. … It’s another (game) where, at least, we should be leaving with a point. But we’re not. That’s a tough one to swallow.”

Hinostroza, in his second stint with the Panthers after playing nine games without a point for them in the 2020-21 season, gave them a 1-0 lead at 9:48 of the first period with a deflection of Jesper Boqvist’s shot from the left boards. 

“The first game and I got the jitters out of the way,” Hinostroza said. “My linemates really helped me, playing different systems and things. There is little stuff I still need to focus on, that I can do better. But that was a fun first game. That was a big one.”

Kane tied it 1-1 at 3:54 of the second period, sweeping the puck in at the right post after it got behind Tarasov.

Faulk scored his first goal with the Red Wings to make it 2-1 at 12:59, lifting a hard backhanded shot from the left face-off circle over the glove of Tarasov. The defenseman was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Friday.