DETROIT — The Red Wings expected these first nine days of the season to be difficult and it's proving to be correct.

The New York Rangers completed a back-to-back sweep Thursday, defeating the beleaguered Wings, 5-2.

Artemi Panarin scored three goals and assisted on one, leading the way for a Rangers team that won the Presidents' Trophy (best regular-season record) last season and look even better now.

Moritz Seider and J.T. Compher (power play) had the Wings' goals, as they dropped to 1-3-0.

The Wings travel Saturday to Nashville, where the Wings can take some solace in that Nashville was the lone team the Wings have defeated.

Goaltender Cam Talbot allowed five goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Alex Lyon at 12:20 of the second period. Victor Mancini scored his first NHL goal on a long shot from the point that got through Talbot, made the score, 5-1, and spurred coach Derek Lalonde to make the change.

But it wasn't all on Talbot. The Wings allowed three power-play goals (two by Panarin) and had no answer for a Rangers' attack that blitzed the Wings for nine goals in the two victories.

Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick — giving Igor Shesterkin the evening off — made 29 saves.

Panarin scored two of his goals in the first period to get the Rangers going. The first goal came shortly after the Wings failed on a 42-second, two-man advantage, which pretty much set the tone for the evening.

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