DETROIT -- Fear.

Paul Maurice mentioned it even before the Florida Panthers lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, dropping their second straight game on the road after winning three straight at home to open the season.

“I don’t have the right word, but fear helps,” the coach said. “That’s part of it.”

The Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. They’re trying to become the first team to win the Cup three years in a row since the New York Islanders won four straight from 1980-83.

But their list of long-term injuries keeps growing, and they play in the competitive Atlantic Division. They cannot afford to be overconfident, thinking they can coast until the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They play at the New Jersey Devils on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPP

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