Datsyuk Scores Twice In 3rd As Red Wings Beat Panthers, 3-0
LARRY LAGE, AP Hockey Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Pavel Datsyuk scored twice in a 1:08 span midway through the third after Tomas Tatar broke a scoreless tie earlier in the period and Petr Mrazek made 23 saves in a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers on Monday night.
Mrazek has a career-high four shutouts this season.
Detroit has won two straight home games for the first time in two months.
The Atlantic Division-leading Panthers lost a second straight game and perhaps a key player.
Florida center Aleksander Barkov was knocked out of the game in the second period after getting hit high by the left shoulder of Red Wings winger Justin Abdelkader. Barkov's return to the game was ruled out because of what the team described as an upper-body injury.
Florida's Al Montoya stopped 28 shots.
The hit that sent Barkov onto the ice was one of many in a tight-checking, chippy game.
With 1:02 left, fists flew.
Florida's Derek MacKenzie checked Abdelkader into the glass, and after they exchanged a few words, gloves were dropped and punches were landed.
For two-plus periods, no one could get the puck into the net.
That changed when Detroit defenseman Jakub Kindl sent a fluttering puck toward net and Tatar deflected it.
Datsyuk's wrist shot from the top of the left circle sailed through traffic and past Montoya. He skated to the front of the net, got a great pass from Henrik Zetterberg and made a move to set up a backhander that he slid between Montoya's pads for his second goal. Datsyuk had not scored twice in a game since Feb. 23, 2015.
The Panthers lost their previous game 3-2 in overtime after scoring at least four goals in each victory during a five-game winning streak.
They'll hope to get back to scoring with a healthy Barkov. The 20-year-old Finn is among Florida's leaders with 16 goals and 35 points. Barkov signed a six-year extension worth about $35 million with Florida last month.
NOTES: Detroit D Mike Green (groin) was scratched. ... Florida C Vincent Trochek was recognized by the NHL as a weekly star after having three goals and three assists for six points in three games. ... The Panthers beat Detroit 6-3 on Thursday at home.
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