Carter Verhaeghe scored a stunning pair of late markers to a turn a one-goal deficit into a 4-3 Florida Panthers win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
Down 3-2 with time running out and Daniil Tarasov on the bench, Verhaeghe took a crossing pass from Matthew Tkachuk and snapped off a seeing-eye shot through a mass of bodies in front, catching the left post and igniting the red light with 90 seconds remaining in regulation.
The winner came 1:15 later with Verhaeghe again providing the heroics. After Donovan Sebrango spearated Emmitt Finnie from the puck deep in the Florida zone, Sam Bennett collected and rushed the other way, dishing to Tkachuk after gaining the blue line. Tkachuk centered to the incoming Verhaeghe and his shot caught John Gibson coming off the far post and found the back of the net at the 19:45 mark.
Newly acquired Vinnie Hinostroza was the offensive driver earlier in the game.
Playing in his first tilt with the Panthers since coming over from Minnesota on deadline day, Hinostroza tipped Jesper Boqvist’s shot from the left boards past Gibson to open the scoring 8:48 into the first period. The secondary assist went to Gustav Forsling, who moved the puck up ice to Boqvist.
After goals from Patrick Kane and former Blue Justin Faulk gave the Red WIngs a 2-1 lead after two, Hinostroza worked his way from right to left behind the goal and then found Niko Mikkola open at the point. The big defenseman slapped a shot towards the goal that glanced off the skate blade of Faulk and beat Gibson 5:10 into the third.
Marco Kasper would finish after receving a slick pass from Finnie 1:22 later to put Detroit back on top, but they would fail to collect any points after Verhaeghe’s stunning brace in the end game.
Despite the absence of leading scorers Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand, the Cats went cardiac to post their 32nd win of the season. The Panthers showed a lot of moxie late, outshooting the Red Wings 13-5 in the third and overcoming the Kasper goal, to get two points, jump the New Jersey Devils in the standings and remain on the periphery of the playoff chase. It marked the first time the team has won consecutive games since late January.
The Five Hole
- Carter Verhaeghe’s late-game salvo earned him First Star honors. It was Verhaeghe’s second multi-goal of the season and first since he potted a pair against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 6
- After notching a hat trick in Detroit on Friday, Matthew Tkachuk contributed two primary assists and matched Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett and Marco Kasper with a game-high four shots.
- Back for a second stint with Florida, Vinnie Hinostroza picked up his first-ever goal and helper in his tenth career game as a member of the Panthers.
- Daniil Tarasov stopped 25 of 28 shots faced and collected his ninth win of the campaign, which is a new-career high for the 26-year-old keeper.
- Defensemen Uvis Balinksis and Gustav Forsling were each credited with three shots and a block. Balinskis also had hit.
Stat Card
