Detroit Red Wings

Brad May is maximizing his role as the Red Wings' enforcer. May, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, has fought six times in 12 games. That's one fewer fighting major than he accumulated in 58 games last season.

Coach Mike Babcock doesn't mind, since May is sticking up for his teammates and not putting the club in shorthanded situations by fighting. Heading into Saturday's game in Montreal, May is on pace to eclipse his career-high total for fighting majors in a season (17 in 1995-96), but he's not looking to set any records.

"Whatever I can do to pitch in," May said. "Everybody's got their role. I just want to contribute and be a part of this group."

May admitted he went against doctors' orders by removing the visor from his helmet during the first intermission of Wednesday's game against Dallas, in anticipation of a fight with Krys Barch. May will wear the visor for the time being to protect his injured right eye. When the visor is on, he has to remove the helmet before a fight, something he doesn't like to do.

May is the only Wing with a fighting major this season. He was signed on Oct. 7 to fill an important role -- protect the club's skilled players from being roughed up -- and he has done his job.

PANTHERS 2, RED WINGS 1 (OT): The Red Wings dominated territorially, outshooting the Panthers 40-20, and generated many more scoring chances. But they couldn't finish around the net, and backup goaltender Scott Clemmensen allowed Florida to hang around until Bryan McCabe scored 40 seconds into overtime. Pavel Datsyuk gave Detroit the lead with a power-play goal at 17:58 of the second period. But Stephen Weiss tied it at 8:13 of the third period, converting a pass through the crease from Nathan Horton.

• It was Wings goalie Chris Osgood's first appearance in 13 days. He hadn't dressed for the last three games because of a bad case of the flu, which caused him to lose eight pounds and required him to have an IV earlier in the week. He wasn't tested much, facing 20 shots, but gave his team a chance to win the game.

• The Wings are averaging a league-high 33.8 shots per game, but coach Mike Babcock still isn't satisfied. He wants his team to put more pucks on net. He said his top defense pair, Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, need to shoot more. He also wants to see his club generate more shots on the power play rather than pass the puck around looking for the perfect play.

• The Wings lost for only the second time at home to Florida, whose last win at Joe Louis Arena came on Dec. 1, 1996. Florida is 2-5-3 lifetime in Detroit.

Quote To Note:

"When you gain a point when you're losing, like we did in Edmonton (6-5 shootout loss on Oct. 29), it feels like a moral victory. But when you're winning and kind of give it away, I think you feel like you lost, even though you get a point."

Goaltenders:

Chris Osgood, Jimmy Howard.

Defensemen:

Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart, Jonathan Ericsson, Brett Lebda.

First Line:

Todd Bertuzzi, Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom.

Second Line:

Ville Leino, Henrik Zetterberg, Dan Cleary.

Third Line:

Kris Draper, Darren Helm, Ville Leino.

Fourth Line:

Drew Miller, Justin Abdelkader, Kirk Maltby.

Player Notes:

• C Darren Helm generated several scoring chances with his speed. He registered a game-high eight shots on goal and had two breakaways. But he couldn't finish.

• C Henrik Zetterberg extended his points streak to five games by assisting on Pavel Datsyuk's goal. Zetterberg has five goals and six assists during this stretch.

• D Brian Rafalski had a rough night. He committed a turnover that led to Florida's game-tying goal in the third period. He also allowed the pass that set up the goal to sail through the crease without getting his stick on the puck.

Medical Watch:

• RW Jason Williams is out until mid-January with a fractured right fibula sustained on Nov. 7.

• C Valtteri Filppula is out until late December with a broken right wrist sustained on Oct. 29.

• D Andreas Lilja is on long-term injured reserve due to concussion-like symptoms. He has been skating but remains out indefinitely.

• LW Johan Franzen isn't expected to return until March due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, sustained Oct. 8.