Panthers 6, Red Wings 3
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The first-place Florida Panthers won their fifth straight game, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 on Thursday at the BB&T Center.
Florida right winger Jaromir Jagr had a goal and two assists -- his first three-point game since October. The goal was his 16th of the season, breaking the NHL record for a player age 43 or older -- one more than Gordie Howe had in 1979-80.
The Panthers (31-15-5), who lead the Atlantic Division by seven points over Tampa Bay and Boston, got first-period goals from left winger Brandon Pirri, center Aleksander Barkov and center Vincent Trocheck -- all within a three-minute span. Center Derek MacKenzie scored in the second period, and Trocheck added an empty-netter with 5:41 left in the third.
During its winning streak, Florida has scored at least four goals in every game.
The bright spot for Detroit was center Dylan Larkin, a leading candidate for NHL Rookie of the Year honors. He scored twice and leads his team with 17 goals. Defenseman Mike Green added a power-play goal with 7:24 left in the third period to make it 5-3.
Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo, starting his first game since playing in the All-Star Game on Sunday, earned his ninth straight win -- a franchise record -- with 36 saves.
Detroit backup goalie Jimmy Howard stopped 27 shots and is 0-4-3 since his last victory Dec. 3.
The Red Wings (25-18-8) are 2-4-1 in their last seven games and are the fourth-lowest scoring team in the league since Dec. 28.
Pirri opened the scoring, getting a deflection off a shot by defenseman Alex Petrovic with 11:30 left in the first period.
Moments before scoring, Pirri took a stick in the face from a Detroit player. But Pirri, momentarily stunned, played on, getting to the front of the net to make the deflection.
Florida made it 2-0 on a power play when Barkov collected a rebound off a shot by right winger Reilly Smith. Barkov showed great dexterity and poise, switching the puck from forehand to backhand before beating Howard high to his glove side.
Trocheck gave Florida a 3-0 lead, showing outstanding speed, racing past three Detroit defenders to create a one-man breakaway.
Larkin, left alone in the slot on a power play, earned his first goal with just seven seconds left in the first period, beating a defenseless Luongo.
Just 68 seconds later -- at the start of the second period -- Larkin scored again, this time on a breakaway, using his impressive speed.
Florida went up 4-2 on MacKenzie's goal. Pirri fired a pass to Mackenzie, who was rushing toward the net. The puck bounced in off Mackenzie's body. The goal was reviewed twice -- Detroit claimed goalie interference -- but the play stood as called.
NOTES: Detroit C Riley Sheahan (illness) returned to the lineup. ... Detroit D Niklas Kronwall (knee) is out until mid-February. ... Panthers LW Brandon Pirri, who has been mentioned in trade rumors and was a healthy scratch in four straight games, returned to the lineup. Panthers LW Shawn Thornton was a healthy scratch. ... Florida also scratched C Dave Bolland and D Willie Mitchell due to injuries. ... Panthers C Nick Bjugstad praised Florida's top line, calling LW Jonathan Huberdeua, C Aleksander Barkov and RW Jaromir Jagr "like the Harlem Globetrotters on ice." ... Florida backup G Al Montoya is 8-2-1 this season with a stellar 1.93 goals-against average. He is 2-0-1 against the Washington Capitals, who lead the league in points. ... Tuesday's win was Florida's first in Washington since 2010, stopping a 10-game losing streak at the Verizon Center.