March 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) skates with a puck defended by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Ciaro (8) during the third period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Image Carter Verhaeghe scored the tying goal and go-ahead goal 1 minute, 15 seconds apart in the dying moments of regulation during the Florida Panthers’ 4-3 home win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Florida.
Trailing 3-2, Florida pulled goalie Daniil Tarasov (25 saves) for an extra skater and Verhaeghe sent a drive from the point through heavy slot traffic and past a screened Detroit goalie John Gibson (24 saves) to tie the game with 1:30 left in regulation.
The Panthers then surged into Detroit territory on a Red Wings turnover and Matthew Tkachuk, who helped score the tying score for Verhaeghe, found him again for a successful wrister in the dying seconds.
The Panthers, who sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference following back-to-back Stanley Cup winning seasons, have beaten the Red Wings twice in five days after losing four straight.
Detroit, amid its own playoff push, is 4-6-2 since Jan. 27.
Florida had 9:48 left in the game. Vinnie Hinostroza, making his second career with the Panthers after being acquired from Minnesota last week, perfectly timed a cross in front of the net to deflect Jesper Boqvist’s shot.
Detroit recorded 11 shots in the first half but failed to achieve much. But the Red Wings tied the game with 3:54 remaining when Moritz Seider’s shot was rebounded by Patrick Kane.
The Red Wings took the lead with 7:01 left in the middle frame. After a faceoff win in the Florida zone, Justin Faulk got possession of the puck and sent an angled backhander past Tarasov.
The Red Wings took the lead again just over a minute after Niko Mikkola tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third. After the Panthers were unable to keep possession of the puck on the sideboard, Detroit’s Emmitt Finnie chipped it to Marco Kasper, who broke free, went up top and beat Tarasov with 13:28 left in regulation.
Detroit’s Andrew Copp, who assisted on Polk’s goal, was out in the second quarter with a lower body injury.
–Field level media
