Red Wings beat slumping Panthers 2-1, keeping fading hopes alive of ending 9-year postseason drought

DETROIT (AP) — Alex DeBrincat and J.T. Compher scored in the second period and Cam Talbot finished with 32 saves to help the Detroit Red Wings keep their fading playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday night.

The Panthers put their goaltender on the bench to add an extra skater and Anton Lundell scored with 39.9 seconds to pull them within a goal.

Detroit has just six games remaining in the regular season to rally into a wild card to end a nine-year postseason drought.

The defending champion and short-handed Panthers have lost five straight for the first time since 2017.

Following a sluggish first period, DeBrincat scored on a power play for his 35th goal of the season and Compher put Detroit up 2-0 midway through the period.

Vitek Vanecek stopped 22 saves and gave Sergei Bobrovsky the night off one day after he made 19 saves in a 3-0 loss at Ottawa.

The Panthers had a flurry of shots late, but couldn't put the puck past Talbot to tie the game.

Panthers: After clinching a spot in the postseason on Saturday, the team hopes star forward Matthew Tkachuk has enough time to get healthy and play for the first time since he was injured playing for the United States at the 4 Nations on Feb. 15

Red Wings: A four-game point streak with three wins has allowed the franchise to preserve its slim playoff chances.

DeBrincat missed an open net early in the second period and made the most of another chance on the same shift to score.

Talbot stopped 10 shots in the opening period, keeping Florida scoreless before the pivotal second period.

Florida hosts Toronto on Tuesday and the Red Wings play at Montreal the same night when they will have a chance to close in on the second team in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Justin Holl passes the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry (46) goes for the puck as he is chased by Florida Panthers left wing Jonah Gadjovich (12) and center Eetu Luostarinen (27) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) looks to pass the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot knocks the puck away during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson, right, skates with the puck as he is pursued by Florida Panthers center Rasmus Asplund (74) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, standing, watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, standing, watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen, front, and Detroit Red Wings right wing Vladimir Tarasenko chase the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat, second from left, is congratulated after scoring against the Florida Panthers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Bo Horvat scored late in the second period and Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves and the New York Islanders topped the New Jersey Devils 1-0 on Sunday.

Horvat intercepted an attempted pass by Devils forward Timo Meier and fired a shot past goalie Jacob Markstrom with 57 seconds left in the middle period for his 28th goal this season. The Islanders held on as Sorokin improved to 30-23-6 with his fourth shutout this season and the 22nd of his career. This is the second time the 29-year-old Sorokin has reached the 30-win mark in his five-year NHL career.

Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech did not return after he was hit high by Devils forward Paul Cotter at the six-minute mark of the second period. Cotter received a five-minute major match penalty and game misconduct. After the game, Islanders coach Patrick Roy had no update on Pelech.

The Islanders snapped a three-game losing streak by winning a day after they were eliminated from postseason contention with a shootout loss at Philadelphia. New York made the playoffs the past two seasons, losing to Carolina both times in the first round.

This was the ninth time the Devils were blanked this season.

Devils captain Nico Hischier had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the waning second but shot the puck wide.

New Jersey is heading to the postseason for the second time in three years. The Devils will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round. New Jersey defeated the Rangers in seven games in the opening round two years ago, then lost to Carolina in the second round.

Markstrom made 21 saves for the Devils.

Devils: fell to 19-16-5 in home games. New Jersey is 22-16-2 on the road.

Islanders: improved to 16-17-7 on the road with their first away win since March 18.

Sorokin, who hadn’t played since allowing Alexander Ovechkin’s record-breaking 895th goal last Sunday at UBS Arena, returned from a three-game absence with a lower body injury with a flawless performance.

The Islanders are 19-5-6 when scoring first and 15-29-6 when allowing the opening goal.

Devils: visiting Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Islanders: hosting Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom makes a save in front of New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders center Marc Gatcomb (16) skates with the puck past New Jersey Devils center Justin Dowling (37) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) shoots past New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom makes a save in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) wins a face-off against New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Islanders center Bo Horvat, second from right, is congratulated by Alexander Romanov (28) after scoring a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)