Trending: Panthers get overtime win on fight night

DETROIT -- The Red Wings and Florida Panthers came into the game in similar position, needing to get some points, especially against an Atlantic Division opponent.
Although the Wings had plenty of offensive chances, the Panthers forced overtime with a third-period power play goal and then defenseman Mike Matheson got the overtime winner on a rebound for a 2-1 victory at Little Caesars Arena Monday night.

Vincent Trocheck scored the power-play goal on the rebound at 10:09 of the third, extending his point streak to five games. He has three goals and five assists in that span.
The Wings out-shot the Panthers 35-29. Mike Green led all skaters with seven shots. Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar each had five.
The Panthers improved to 12-14-4 overall and 6-8-1 on the road while the Wings fell to 11-13-6 overall and 5-6-5 at home.
1. Henrik Zetterberg: The Red Wings captain didn't need anyone to remind him that he hadn't scored in a while - he knew. So it was no doubt a big relief when Zetterberg's backhand shot went off Matheson and came back to him for a forehand rebound from the slot that eluded goaltender James Reimer stick-side. It was Zetterberg's first goal in 23 games. He had four goals in his first seven games of the season, with the last prior to Monday coming Oct. 18 at Toronto. Trevor Daley got the lone assist. It ended the longest scoring drought of Zetterberg's career.
Quotable: "I think it helps. We live in a world where he's got to answer that question over and over again. When it goes in, it's great. He's certainly somebody that if anybody is rock solid, he is, but it's going to help anybody. Any offensive player wants to score. He knows he's had some chances and hopefully, that leads to more for him." - Wings coach Jeff Blashill
Quotable II: "Created a lot of chances, we played better defensively. Unfortunately they got one there on their power play. We had our chances when we had our power play but we couldn't get the two-goal lead." - Zetterberg
2. Jimmy Howard: Howard made it very clear after Saturday's 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues that he felt he had let in some goals that he shouldn't have and needed to play better. Howard came out very strong, stopping Trocheck on the Panthers' power play, Denis Malgin at the net and Wings tormentor Colton Sceviour on a breakaway among 12 saves in the first period alone. The Wings only allowed the Panthers six shots in the second but Howard stopped all of those as well. But with the Panthers on the power play midway through the third, Trocheck beat Howard with a rebound goal at 10:09, giving him seven goals among 12 points in 13 career games against the Wings. Howard passed Jon Casey and moved into a ninth-place tie with Tim Thomas for most games played by an American goaltender with 426.
Quotable: "I knew I was going to be able to respond for the guys. Sometimes it's good when you go out there and see some rubber early it helps settle you down." - Howard
Quotable II: "Howie made a great save, sprawling, and it found its way in. I thought Howie was great again tonight. He's been great for us all year." - Glendening
3. Fight night: Maybe Luke Witkowski was just a little testy after sitting out for 10 games after his suspension or maybe it was Florida's Micheal Haley that was in a less than joyous mood but either way, the two squared off twice. The first bout came at 13:26 of the first period and the second at 6:39 of the second. Witkowski is the first Wings player to have two fighting majors in a game since Jordin Tootoo had two on Jan. 29, 2013 against the Dallas Stars. He is also the first Wing to fight the same player twice in a game since Todd Bertuzzi fought Nashville's Shane O'Brien twice on April 2, 2011. But they weren't the only combatants. Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad, the Windsor, Ontario native, took exception to Luke Glendening's check into the boards and dropped the gloves. In his first career NHL bout, Glendening got blooded but got the last laugh as Ekblad also received a minor for slashing. It is the first time the Wings had three fighting majors in a game since March 22, 2013, when Jonathan Ericsson, Brian Lashoff and Brendan Smith all fought. It was the first time the Wings had three fighting majors at home since April 2, 1999 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Quotable: "It's in the back of your head. You don't want to go in expecting it, but my style of play, I'm going to finish my checks and those guys are going to come after you, so you obviously know it's going to happen at some point." - Witkowski
Quotable II: "Gotta love Wit coming in after a 10-game suspension and really playing with passion. Didn't get a lot of minutes but he made sure he took advantage of it. It's nice to see that Glennie threw his gloves, too. So lot of emotions, lot of good things tonight but obviously we want the two points." - Zetterberg