Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Jaromir Jagr passed Phil Esposito for fifth
place on the NHL’s all-time goals list with No. 718 and the Florida Panthers
beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Thursday night.
Brandon Pirri and Scottie Upshall also scored and Roberto Luongo returned from
a six-game absence to make 25 saves for the Panthers, who are fighting to join
the Red Wings in playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
Luongo made his first appearance since a March 3 loss to Toronto, when he left
the game between the first and second periods but was forced back into action
after backup Al Montoya was also injured.
His return saw the Panthers, seven points out of a playoff spot when the day
began, snap a two-game losing streak.
Erik Cole scored for Detroit and Petr Mrazek gave up three goals on 32 shots.
The Red Wings fell to 1-2 on a four-game road trip that also includes a 5-1
win in Pittsburgh on Sunday and a 7-2 loss in Philadelphia on Saturday.
They were without star forward Pavel Datsyuk because of a lower-body injury
but got Darren Helm back after he missed seven games with a strained oblique.
