DETROIT -- The Florida Panthers want to be better defensively, and they certainly accomplished that goal the past two games.

Aleksander Barkov's breakaway goal 2:02 into overtime gave the Panthers a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena.

It was the first win under general manager-turned-interim coach Tom Rowe after Gerard Gallant was fired Sunday.

One of Rowe's complaints was that Florida was giving up too many goals.

Well, the team allowed a total of two goals in Rowe's first two games behind the bench. His debut was a 2-1 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Tuesday night.

"We said we had to be better in our own zone, and that's what we've done these two games," Panthers captain Derek MacKenzie said.

Defenseman Jason Demers also scored for Florida (12-10-2), which has beaten Detroit in all three games this season. Roberto Luongo stopped 20 shots.

"I thought we played a very complete game," Demers said. "We had some breakdowns, but we did a good job of managing the game."

Henrik Zetterberg scored for Detroit (11-10-3). Petr Mrazek made 28 saves.

"Turnovers. All over the ice," Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "I thought our start was decent, the first 10 minutes or so. The second period wasn't very good. We started turning the puck over. We didn't really get back to playing the way we want to after that.

After taking a pass from Jonathan Marchessault, Barkov made a move and slid a backhand shot between Mrazek's pads for his third goal of the season.

It was Barkov's third goal and first since the second game of the season, which was a 4-1 win over Detroit in Florida.

"I don't even remember when I scored my last goal, so it felt great to see one go in, and the win felt even better," Barkov said.

Rowe said Barkov is playing better recently.

"His game has been coming along for a few nights," Rowe said. "He's a horse, he's been coming, and he scored a great goal in overtime tonight."

Seconds before, Luongo made an outstanding save on Zetterberg's shot from the bottom of the right circle.

"Mo (Anthony Mantha) makes a nice play, long reach, throws it back to me," Zetterberg said. "Didn't get all of it. I'd like to see the replay, but he made the save."

Luongo also made a stick and pad save on Thomas Vanek's tip during a power play late in the third period.

Detroit defenseman Mike Green hit the crossbar in the middle of the third period. A Vanek shot hit the goal post after it went off Luongo early in the second period.

Zetterberg gave Detroit a 1-0 lead 1:23 into the game. He beat Luongo high on the glove side with a backhand shot from the inside edge of the left circle. It was Zetterberg's fourth goal.

Demers tied it with 1:45 left in the first period. His slap shot from the top of the right circled deflected off the skate of Red Wings defenseman Dan DeKeyser and past Mrazek. It was Demers' third goal.

An apparent power-play goal by Florida center Vincent Trocheck was called back when the play was ruled offside going into the Red Wings zone after Detroit coach Jeff Blashill's challenge.

Red Wings left winger Justin Abdelkader went to the dressing room after a collision in the corner with Trocheck in the middle of the first period and did not return because of a lower-body injury.

"I don't think he's going to be out that long, but we'll see," Blashill said. "We'll know more on that tomorrow."

NOTE: Florida interim coach Tom Rowe played with Detroit in the 1982-83 season. ... Tuesday was Detroit LW Tomas Tatar's 26th birthday. ... Panthers RW Reilly Smith is the brother of Red Wings D Brendan Smith, who is on injured reserve with a right MCL sprain ... Detroit C Riley Sheahan doesn't have a goal in his first 24 games this season. ... Panthers RW Jaromir Jagr played his 1,653rd career game to pass Mark Recchi for fourth all-time.