Carter Verhaeghe scored twice in the final 90 seconds of regulation, lifting the Florida Panthers past the Detroit Red Wings, 4-3, on Tiesday night.
The Red Wings led for much of the game and had taken a 3-2 lead when Marco Kasper scored just over a minute after Florida’s Niko Mikkola had tied the game 5:10 into the third period.
Verhaeghe had tied it with 1:30 remaining in regulation. His game-winner came with 14 seconds left.
It was a tough loss to swallow for the Wings, who continue their road trip at Tampa Bay on Thursday. Detroit, which led 3-2 after two periods, had been 24-1-3 while leading after two periods this season.
Red Wings Slip In Standings
The loss, coupled with Montreal’s 3-1 win over Toronto, dropped the Red Wings into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a point behind the Canadiens.
Florida’s Vinnie Hinostroza scored midway through the first period, a lead that stood until Patrick Kane tied it 3:54 into the second period. Justin Faulk, who was obtained from St. Louis last week, notched his first Detroit goal on a backhander at 12:59.
Kane’s goal was his 502nd career goal, tying him with Joe Mullen for fourth place among U.S.-born skaters.
The Red Wings, who were playing without center Dylan Larkin, lost Andrew Copp to injury shortly after he assisted on Faulk’s goal. He fell awkwardly after a faceoff and was helped off the ice. Florida center Tomas Nosek appeared to fall on Copp’s left leg.
Goaltender John Gibson, meanwhile, was back in the net after having to leave Sunday’s win at New Jersey. He stopped 24 shots.
Florida was playing shorthanded, too. Brad Marchand was held out of the lineup amid talk his season may be over. Marchand has been dealing with a lower-body injury for much of the season,
The Red Wings and Panthers have one more meeting this season, the season finale at Florida on April 15.