Red Wings defeat Cup champion Panthers for third consecutive win

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Oct 15, 2025

Published in Hockey

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DETROIT — Opening night wasn't pretty, but the Red Wings have looked like a different team since.

The Wings won their third consecutive game Wednesday, a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Mason Appleton had two goals, including an empty-net goal at 18 minutes, 2 seconds, Patrick Kane (power play) and Michael Rasmussen (empty net) added goals and goaltender Cam Talbot stopped 21 shots.

The Wings (3-1-0) began the season with a disappointing 5-1 loss to Montreal, but have since beaten Toronto twice and now the two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers.

Brad Marchand scored Florida's goal.

Appleton opened the scoring with his second goal in two games, and both similar looking.

Tumbling to the ice, Appleton managed to snap a shot that beat Bobrovsky at 2:09, giving the Wings a 1-0 second-period lead. It was similar to Appleton's game-winner Monday in Toronto, where he put back a rebound while falling down.

Appleton added his third score on the empty-net goal late in the third period.

Kane increased the lead to 2-0 with his second goal.

With the Wings enjoying a two-man advantage, Dylan Larkin won the faceoff and got the puck to Moritz Seider, who shoveled a pass to Kane. Drifting to the dot, Kane wristed a shot that beat Bobrovsky at 9:36.

The Panthers (3-2-0) sliced the margin in half on Marchand's third goal at 14:05. The Panthers' Anton Lundell won the faceoff and Marchand controlled the puck. Marchand wheeled behind the net and converted the wraparound on Talbot, sliding a shot through Talbot's pads.

The Wings killed both Florida's power plays in the game, while converting 1 of 3 power plays.