In Detroit, the Red WIngs’ Jonathan Bernier made 38 saves and got just enough offensive support to down the Florida Panthers, 2-1, on Saturday evening.
The win erased some of the bad taste of a 7-2 loss to the Panthers on Friday.
“This was a very, very difficult 24 hours for all of us,” Detroit’s Dylan Larkin said. “It was a tough night on the ice, which happens in this league, but then we lost a friend. I tried hard and I know a lot of our guys tried hard to come to the rink tonight with the same enthusiasm that [Tchekmarev] had every day.”
Alex Wennberg had the only goal against Bernier.
“We had a chance to have a perfect road trip, so we lost a little bit of excitement tonight,” Florida head coach Joel Quenneville said. “We gave them two free goals and that was the difference.”
Mathias Brome picked up his first NHL goal in the win.
“It was nice to get my first NHL goal, and it was even better because this was an important night for everyone here,” Brome said.
The goal was also the game-winner.
“I’m old enough (26 years old) to know things will get better as long as you are creating chances,” Brome said. “My first year in Sweden, I didn’t have a point for 14 or 15 games, so I’ve done this before. It was frustrating, but I would have only worried if I wasn’t creating chances.”
Patrik Nemeth also scored for the Red Wings to tie the game 1-1.
“I think Jonathan Bernier was the story of this game,” Larkin said. “He’s been on a great run for us, so it was nice to get him a win.”
Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves in the loss.
“I thought we had a flat second period,” Florida’s Frank Vatrano said. “Obviously, they were the hungrier team after what happened yesterday, and when you take a period off, this is what happens.”
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