Red Wings fall to Rangers again, losing special teams battle

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings came into the season hoping to close the gap on teams ahead of them, including elite clubs like the New York Rangers.

That gap instead appears to have widened.

The Rangers on Thursday broke the game open with three goals in the second period and scored three times on the power play to defeat the Red Wings 5-2 at Little Caesars Arena.

Detroit dropped to 1-3-0 after getting swept in the home and home series against last season's Presidents' Trophy winners. The Rangers are 3-0-1.

Artemi Panarin scored three goals for his eighth career hat trick and added an assist.

The Rangers scored three goals in a span of 3:34 midway through the second period to take a 5-1 lead. Cam Talbot, who recorded a 3-0 victory over Nashville Saturday in his first start, was pulled for Alex Lyon after allowing five goals on 18 shots, behind a shaky defense.

The Red Wings' struggles on the power play continue. They went 1 for 4 but converted late on a goal by J.T. Compher well after the outcome was decided. They are 2 for 15 through four games.

They had a good opportunity to strike first in the opening period with a pair of power plays that overlapped, giving them a five-on-three for 42 seconds, but didn't convert.

Panarin then scored twice – on the Rangers' first shot at 8:30 and then 11 seconds into a power play at 15:39.

Moritz Seider's first goal of the season cut Detroit's deficit to 2-1 at 1:27 of the second. But Vincent Trocheck tipped in a Panarin shot on the power play at 8:46, Panarin completed his hat trick at 11:42 and Victor Mancini added to the lead at 12:20.

The Red Wings have been outscored 6-2 in the second period in home games against the Penguins and Rangers. Both times, a three-goal outburst in a short span sent their starting goalie to the bench.

The Red Wings visit Nashville on Saturday (2 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit).