Red Wings rally for big victory over Panthers
If the Detroit Red Wings make the playoffs and extend their run of postseason appearances to 25, their 5-3 come-from-behind win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night might be a game you can look back at as a turning point in their season.
Late in the second period, things were looking bleak for the Wings. They were down 3-1, getting outplayed and in a position where they could potentially miss a great opportunity to put some distance between them and the Philadelphia Flyers (who were on the losing end of a 4-1 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the day) in the race for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
But a Pavel Datsyuk goal with 10 seconds to play in the period closed the gap to one, and then the Red Wings’ rally continued with three consecutive goals in the third period to secure the win.
What you need to know about Saturday’s game:
1) Don’t underestimate how big this win is for the Red Wings
When the night started they held a one-point lead over the Flyers for a playoff spot. The problem, though, is that even though the Red Wings occupied the spot they still faced an uphill climb to actually clinch it because they not only still have a head-to-head game remaining with Philadelphia, but because the Flyers still have two games in hand on them. That one-point lead could evaporate very quickly under those circumstances, and it was essential for the Red Wings to get these two points.
With the Flyers currently on pace for around 94 points, a loss Saturday would have meant the Red Wings would have needed to gain 14 points in 10 games to finish ahead of that pace. Given how Detroit has played over the past few weeks, that would have been easier said than done.
Now they at least have a little bit of extra cushion.
It still isn’t going to be easy, but the Red Wings certainly improved their chances on Saturday.
2) Roberto Luongo had a rough night for the Panthers
Luongo has been one of the Panthers’ best players this season and one of the best goalies in the league. But Saturday proved to be a frustrating night. First, he was absolutely livid following Datsyuk’s late second-period goal that started the Red Wings’ rally (he seemed to think he was interfered with in front).
Then, he gave up the eventual winning goal to Luke Glendening in the third period when the puck barely crossed the goal line.
Sometimes it is a game of inches.
3) Pavel Datsyuk came through when the Red Wings needed him
At 37 he is clearly not the player he once was, and he wasn’t really great for the entire 60 minutes Saturday, but Datsyuk still has the ability to come through when the Red Wings need him most, and he did just that to help spark their rally on Saturday and to help put the game away.
He scored a pair of goals (his third two-goal game in the past 19 games) Saturday and was especially strong in the third period away from the puck, forcing some turnovers and helping to create chances.
4) The Red Wings’ win eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs from playoff contention
Not that the Maple Leafs were still in a position to make the playoffs, or that anybody actually expected them to make the playoffs this season, but it is still worth pointing out that they were mathematically eliminated Saturday with the Red Wings’ win. Especially when it was a Red Wings win that officially did it when you consider that their former coach, Mike Babcock, is now behind the bench in Toronto.
It will be the 10th time in the past 11 years Toronto has failed to qualify for the playoffs, with the only playoff appearance during that run coming during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
They have not made the playoffs in a full 82-game season since 2003-04.
The Detroit Red Wings rallied for a big win on Saturday night against the Florida Panthers. (USATSI)
