DETROIT _ The Detroit Red Wings are creating chances. Finishing them is the problem.
The Wings had one goal to show for 34 shots on net at the end of regulation Monday at Little Caesars Arena, in a game against division rival Florida. The Panthers claimed a 2-1 victory in overtime when Mike Matheson scored at 2:02 of the extra period.
Henrik Zetterberg scored for the first time in 23 games on a night when there were two fights in the second period alone. Vincent Trocheck converted during a power play in the third period.
The Wings had good chances in Saturday's loss to St. Louis, but only finished one of them.
Wings goalie Jimmy Howard left the previous game saying he had to play better after allowing four goals on eight shots against the Blues. He had a fine response against the Panthers, making five saves alone during a penalty kill, including a glove save on Trocheck. Howard denied a streaking Colton Sceviour as the Panthers reached 10 shots on goal in 12 minutes.
Luke Witkowski returned to the lineup after serving his 10-game suspension, bumping prospect Tyler Bertuzzi from the lineup. Witkowski fought Micheal Haley in the first period, landing a couple good punches. The two fought again in the second period. Luke Glendening earned a standing ovation from fans after a spirited fight with Aaron Ekblad midway through the second period. Glendening smiled as he skated away a bloodied nose.
Zetterberg made it 1-0 late in the first period. He got the puck from Trevor Daley in Detroit's zone, bulled through three defenders and skated to the slot and fired a shot that slid beneath goalie James Reimer.
The Wings sustained a regular attack in the second period, at one point outshooting the Panthers, 8-2. Dylan Larkin shook his head after coming up short on a glorious chance as he and Anthony Mantha drove the net; Larkin's backhand attempt was snatched away by Reimer's glove. Mantha next tried for a snipe from the right circle. The Wings had a 23-18 edge in shots after two periods. Tomas Tatar had a breakaway and tried to backhand the puck only to see it go into Reimer's pads in the third period. Gustav Nyquist swept up the middle on a power play and tried for a tap-in at the doorstep.
