SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers will close out their penultimate homestand of the regular season when they host the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Ban Arena on Saturday.
Despite losing six out of their last seven games, the Panthers, who’ve already clinched a playoff berth, remain in position to pounce in the Atlantic Division at 46-22-5, trailing the Boston Bruins by just two points for first place with a game in hand.
With nine games left in the regular season, it’s all about getting back into a groove now.
“It’s not secret we’ve been in a little bit of a slump lately,” Panthers forward Steven Lorentz said after Friday’s practice. “We know we’ve played better hockey. It’s not that we’re that far off. We’re just making some mental mistakes. That’s stuff we can touch up in practice.”
Suffering a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders in their last outing on Thursday, the Panthers saw a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 deficit within a span of less than two minutes in the second period after surrendering a pair of quick goals to Mathew Barzal and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
With the whistles not blowing in Florida’s favor, a bright spot in the loss was a 6-for-6 showing on the penalty kill. Additionally, with his 19th goal of the season, Aleksander Barkov record the 700th point of his NHL career, becoming just the sixth Finnish player to do so.
Despite the loss, the Panthers still secured their fifth straight trip to the postseason less than an hour after the game ended when the Red Wings lost to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The reigning champions of the Eastern Conference will get a chance to defend their crown.
“It’s always nice,” Barkov said of a return trip to the postseason. “Last year it came before the last game of the season. Now we have a little breathing room here. We know we have a lot of work to do. We need to be a little better than the last few games, for sure.”
Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers in goals (51) and points (85). Matthew Tkachuk ranks second in points (79) and first in assists (56). Carter Verhaeghe has produced 70 points, with a team-high 49 coming at even strength. Barkov is fourth in scoring with 69 points.
An elite one-two punch between the pipes, goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz have both been lights out for Florida. Bobrovsky has gone 32-16-3 with a .914 save percentage and four shutouts, while Stolarz sits at 14-6-2 with a .925 save percentage.
Bobrosvky will get the nod in net this afternoon, per Panthers head coach Paul Maurice.
“I like our team,” Maurice said. “It’s a good team. I don’t like parts of the way we’re playing. There’s some good signs in there. … Let’s get it all thrashed out in the next two weeks.”
In the must-win portion of their season, the Red Wings enter this afternoon’s matchup barely on the outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Despite losing each of their last three games to fall to 36-30-7, they’re just two points out of a wild-card spot.
Held without a goal for the second time in their last three games, the Red Wings were shut out 4-0 against the Carolina Hurricanes in their last game on Thursday. Not mustering much in terms of offense in Raleigh, they posted only 24 shots on goal, including just three in the first period.
Once looking like a lock for the playoffs, Detroit has lost 11 of its last 14 games.
“We were going to be up against it considering where our lineup was,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde told reporters after the loss to the Hurricanes. “At the same time, we get through the first period. I know the shots were very lopsided, but that’s who they are.”
Lucas Raymond leads the Red Wings in scoring with 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists). Second in scoring, Alex DeBrincat has logged 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists). Detroit captain Dylan Larkin paces the club in goals (28) and also ranks third in points (57).
Nearly a point-per-game player during his first season in the Motor City, Patrick Kane has produced 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 41 games. After missing the game in Carolina with an illness, the three-time Stanley Cup champion is questionable to suit up against the Panthers.
According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, goaltender Alex Lyon will get the nod in net for the Red Wings. A key piece of Florida’s push to the playoffs last season, the “Lyon King” has gone 18-16-3 with a .904 save percentage in his first season with Detroit.
Facing off for the fourth and final time this season, the Panthers have gone 2-0-1 against the Red Wings, including a pair of shutouts. In their last meeting, Florida cruised to a 4-0 win at Little Caesars Arena behind a 21-save performance from Bobrovsky.
Overall, the Panthers lead 8-3 in goals in the season series.
PREGAME QUOTES
"I think the penalty kill was outstanding [last game]. I think our 5-on-5 game was actually really good. There were some shot tips [the Islanders] scored on." -- Paul Maurice
“Every game is building toward the playoffs, even Game 1 of the regular season is like that. Now we’re getting close to that time. We’re just excited about that, but we have to remember that we have to be at our best every game before that.” -- Aleksander Barkov
FIVE CATS STATS
- Sam Reinhart has scored five goals in his last five games.
- The Panthers are 16-2-1 in games in which Matthew Tkachuk scores.
- Aleksander Barkov has recorded 44 points (15G, 29A) in 40 career games vs. Detroit.
- Florida ranks first in the NHL with 2,041 hits.
- The Panthers are allowing the fewest goals per game in the NHL at 2.44.
PROJECTED LINEUP (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Forwards
Evan Rodrigues - Aleksander Barkov - Vladimir Tarasenko
Carter Verhaeghe - Sam Bennett - Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart
Nick Cousins - Kevin Stenlund - Steven Lorentz
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling - Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola - Brandon Montour
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Dmitry Kulikov
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Anthony Stolarz
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
- March 27: D Uvis Balinskis loaned to Charlotte (AHL)
- March 25: F Ben Steeves agreed to terms on a 2-year ELC commencing in 2024-25
- March 21: D Uvis Balinskis recalled from Charlotte (AHL)
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
When: Saturday, March 30 at 12:30 p.m. ET
Where: Amerant Bank Arena – Sunrise, FL
TV & Streaming: Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports+, NHL Network
Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 92.1 WZZR (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM Channel 91 / App & Streaming 932; Panthers App
Tickets: Click Here
