Bobrovsky shines in net for win
SUNRISE — Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves and Patric Hornqvist was credited with the eventual winning goal when a teammate’s shot bounced off his shoulder and into the net as the Florida Panthers beat the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Bobrovsky improved to 4-0-1 this season. Alex Wennberg also scored for the Panthers.
Hornqvist’s winner and sixth goal of the season came on a power play when a shot by Aaron Ekblad deflected off his shoulder and over the head of Thomas Greiss at 8 minutes, 4 seconds of the second period, making the score 2-1. Hornqvist also had an assist.
“It always hurts a little less when the puck goes in,” Hornqvist said. “All 20 guys out there were really good.
“It felt like we had control of the puck the whole night. It was a close game, but it didn’t feel like that.”
Bobrovsky allowed an early goal but was able to stop the Red Wings the rest of the way.
“I was feeling good. It was nice to be back, to play, to see the puck,” Bobrovsky said. “I wanted to go out and keep up my pace and have a higher intensity. It was a good win for us.”
Filip Zadina scored for the Red Wings.
Greiss stopped 20 shots in his eighth straight appearance.
The Panthers are 10-1-1 over their last 12 games against Detroit. The Red Wings have lost nine of 10.
“We have to find ways to win these games,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We had some chances on the power play, but we need to score.”
Zadina put the Red Wings ahead 1-0 at the 3:31 mark of the first.
“We started good, won the battles, and scored the goal and felt pretty good,” Zadina said. “We need to score more than one goal.”
Dylan Larkin’s assist on Zadina’s goal, his first point in four games, gives him 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 22 games against the Panthers.
“We need results and we need them now with the hole we’ve dug for ourselves,” Larkin said. “We just couldn’t get it by Bobrovsky.”
Huberdeau’s assist on the goal by Wennberg was his 450th NHL point.
Back on the ice: Red Wings F Anthony Mantha returned after being a healthy scratch Sunday.
Panthers F Ryan Lomberg played for the first time since opening night.
Attendance: The Panthers allow up to 5,000 fans. Attendance was 3.477.
Up next: The Panthers host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.