DETROIT _ Two tough opponents on consecutive nights and the Red Wings certainly didn't embarrass themselves.
But they still couldn't earn victories.
Twenty-four hours after losing to Pittsburgh in overtime, the Red Wings dropped a 4-1 decision Saturday against Florida in a rare back-to-back set at Little Caesars Arena.
The difference in this game? The Red Wings were 0 for 7 on the power play, while Florida was able to convert on its sixth attempt, Aleksander Barkov's 15th goal, at 13 minutes, 5 seconds of the third period, giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead.
Denis Malgin added an empty-net goal at 18:12 for Florida to close out the scoring.
Goaltender Jimmy Howard earned another start after playing well against Pittsburgh, and was again one of the Wings' best players, stopping 34 shots.
But Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been having a rocky first season with the Panthers after signing a big free-agent contract, was just a bit better while making 27 saves.
Dylan Larkin scored the lone Wings' goal, his 12th of the season and 100th of his career.
Larkin came out of the penalty box and received an outlet pass from Darren Helm for a breakaway at 5:15 of the second period, cutting the Florida lead to 2-1.
Florida's Evgenii Dadonov and Mark Pysyk scored 1:25 apart late in the first period.
Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau found Dadonov alone down the wing, made a perfect stretch pass, and Dadonov put his 21st goal past Howard at 17:15.
As has been a Wings' characteristic this season, they allowed another goal shortly after.
Aaron Ekblad worked the puck in from the point and centered a pass to Pysyk near the post. Pysyk put in his fourth goal on the rebound attempt, at 18:40.
The Wings (12-33-4) have lost six of their last eight (2-5-1) and head to Colorado (Monday) and Minnesota (Wednesday) before going on their All-Star and bye break.
