The Florida Panthers flipped a 2-goal deficit into a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena, fueled by a three-goal third period in front of 19,151 fans. Anton Lundell scored twice, including the late winner, while Carter Verhaeghe dished three primary assists. Akira Schmid stopped all third-period shots he faced to close it out. It was fast, physical, and decided at five-on-five, with both NHL teams going 0/2 on the power play. On Sofascore you can dive into every shot, hit, and play-by-play moment from this game.

Third-period swing at Amerant Bank Arena

Florida started the third down 2-4, then immediately tilted the ice. Lundell cut the gap with a goal at 43:00, assisted by Verhaeghe and Aaron Ekblad, which reset the tone for the final frame. The Panthers kept coming, and Lars Eller tied it at 57:00 after Niko Mikkola forced the play up ice and found him in stride. With Detroit on its heels, Lundell struck again at 58:00, this time created by Matthew Tkachuk’s feed and a secondary touch from Brady Tkachuk.

The numbers underline the surge. Florida outshot Detroit 12-8 in the third and posted a 33 percent even-strength shot conversion in the period, while the Red Wings finished at 0 percent at five-on-five. Detroit’s lone third-period penalty, a high stick at 41:00, did not cost them on the scoreboard, but it invited pressure the visitors struggled to break. The Panthers won only 39 percent of third-period faceoffs, yet their wave-after-wave possession overcame those draws. When the puck mattered most, Florida’s shot quality rose and the goals followed.

Five-on-five ruled the night

Special teams were a stalemate, which meant the game lived at even strength. Both clubs went 0/2 on the power play, so the 5v4 conversion rate finished level at 0 percent. The Panthers did control the fine print on draws while shorthanded, winning 3 of 3, but those details never translated into special-teams goals. With no power-play breakthrough either way, even-strength finishing told the story.

Across 60 minutes, Florida converted 5 of 25 even-strength shots for 20 percent, compared to Detroit’s 4 of 26 for 15 percent. That small difference carried big weight in a one-goal game. The third period magnified it, where Florida’s five-on-five sharpness was the separator. Both teams also split overall faceoffs at 50 percent, so there was no possession windfall off the dots. In a night without special-teams swings, every even-strength shot choice and rebound touch mattered.

Territory, shot quality and the little margins

The Panthers enjoyed a 56.0 percent Corsi, pointing to the overall shot-attempt edge that kept them pushing. Fenwick finished an even 50.0 percent, which fits a game that was tight for long stretches. Where Florida did carve out an advantage was proximity. The Panthers’ average shot distance was 10.4, closer to goal than Detroit’s 13.2, and that proximity showed up late.

Florida also leaned into the physical battle, finishing with a 36-13 edge in hits that wore on the visitors’ breakout. Detroit countered with volume in the lane, leading 18-7 in blocked shots, but those stops could not blunt Florida’s third-period push. Turnovers nudged toward the home side as well, with the Panthers at 10 giveaways compared to the Red Wings’ 19, a margin that kept the Florida rush game alive. Takeaways were 4-2 for Detroit, yet they could not turn those into third-period looks.

Shot types add context too. Florida scored three wrist shots, plus one backhand and one batted finish, showing variety around the crease. Detroit answered with a mix that included a tip and a backhand, but their snap shots, like Florida’s, did not find the net. Add it up and the Panthers’ 29-28 shots-on-goal edge, paired with closer looks, matched the final scoreline.

Goaltenders and game context

Akira Schmid collected 24 saves on 28 shots for Florida, saving his cleanest work for the final frame. He locked the door in the third, where Detroit had eight shots and no goals. At the other end, John Gibson posted 24 saves on 29 shots for Detroit, but the third period proved costly as the Panthers scored three on 12 attempts. In a game decided at even strength, that late swing in finishing and netminding was the difference.

Faceoff flow shifted period by period. Florida took the circle battle 53 percent in the first and 58 percent in the second, which helped stabilize the puck after Detroit’s early surge. The Red Wings surged to 61 percent in the third, yet struggled to turn those wins into dangerous chances. Florida’s special-teams draws were excellent, perfect on the penalty kill and 50 percent on the power play, but with both power plays at 0/2, the impact stayed minor. Context matters, and this one was all about five-on-five execution.

Who drove the result

Anton Lundell was the headline, scoring twice at even strength and taking 60 percent of his faceoffs. His winner at 58:00 capped the night. Verhaeghe’s three primary assists were the connective tissue on Florida’s goals, and he led the team in points. Eller chipped in the crucial game-tying goal and finished an impressive +4. Gustav Forsling added a goal and solid minutes, while Sam Reinhart opened the scoring early from Seth Jones and Verhaeghe.

On the blue line, Ekblad had an assist and two blocks, though he also absorbed three giveaways under Detroit’s forecheck. Mikkola’s assist came with two takeaways and steady defensive work. Matthew Tkachuk delivered an assist and four hits, Brady Tkachuk added a helper and four hits, and Garnet Hathaway threw four hits despite two penalty minutes. The temperature rose in the second period when Sam Bennett and Alex DeBrincat each received five for fighting, and Bennett added a two-minute roughing minor that Sandis Vilmanis served.

For Detroit, Moritz Seider led the way with two assists, while the goals came from J.T. Compher, Andreas Englund, Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper. Andrew Copp and William Wallinder each posted an assist, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård led the Red Wings with five hits. Detroit’s depth created a 4-1 lead by 33:00 of game time, but the final 17 minutes belonged to Florida.

A home crowd, a relentless forecheck, and a wave of quality chances tilted this NHL matchup back to the Panthers. For full advanced stats, player trends, play maps and Sofascore Rating updates, follow Florida Panthers vs Detroit Red Wings on Sofascore, where every shift lives on the timeline.