A Huge Challenge Today For The Wings

03/02/2024 at 10:32am EST

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

The Detroit Red Wings’ reward for potentially ending a seven-year playoff drought could be a first-round matchup against the Florida Panthers, who they host today on national TV (3 p.m., ABC).
There might not be a tougher opponent in the NHL.
“This is the hottest team, arguably the best team in the league right now,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “This is our last opportunity at home before we go on an extremely difficult road trip (four games). So, it’s just about us playing the right way against a very good opponent.”...
“We know it’s going to be a battle,” Detroit’s Dylan Larkin said. “We’ve risen to the occasion this year with top teams. I think these guys are playing really well right now. It’s an early game, it’s going to be a great atmosphere. We’re going to have to be ready to bring the battle to them. I expect it to be like a playoff game.”
Alex Lyon will start in goal against his former team. He made 32 saves and Larkin scored in overtime in a 3-2 victory at Florida on Jan. 17. It snapped the Red Wings’ 10-game winless streak against the Panthers (0-8-2). Florida is 16-2-2 in its past 20 against Detroit.
The Panthers are loaded up front with Sam Reinhart, whose 41 goals rank second in the league, Matthew Tkachuk (68 points) and Carter Verhaeghe (30 goals).
“That’s a scary top six,” Lalonde said. “We have a very unique lineup where we’re offensive through the entire lineup, but you can get stuck with some tough matchups. I think they have the best two-way center in the league by far. This might be the best team in the league. It’s playing itself out like that. It creates a lot of issues. They don’t give up much. You look at the talent, but they’re a really good defensive team.”

read on ($)

via George Richards of Florida Hockey Now,

The Panthers have won 9 out of their past 10 games and are 13-3 since losing 3-2 in overtime to the Red Wings on Jan. 16.

Dylan Larkin scored in overtime to give Detroit its first win over the Panthers since the Covid-shortened 2021 season.

Detroit came into the game 0-8-2 in its past 10 against the Panthers and had not won in Sunrise since Feb. 7, 2021.

Florida has played extremely well in Detroit over the years.

Of 33 games played either at Joe Louis Arena or Little Caesars Arena, the Panthers have won 21.

Florida is 12-2 in the Red Wings new palace in downtown Detroit.

Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start today. He is 25-6-1 against the Red Wings and made 22 saves in Floridas 2-0 win in Detroit on Nov. 2.

The other starting goalie: Alex Lyon.

Lyon, who made 32 saves in his first game against the Panthers since signing with the Red Wings as a free agent on July 1, has won four of his past five starts but is coming off a 5-3 loss to the Islanders.

Obviously it always feels good to beat the team you played for last year but I respect those guys and they have a fantastic team over there, Lyon said after the win in Sunrise. We played really well tonight, I am super happy for the boys. Proud of the way we battled back.

OlderThanChelios

Here's some statistics that surprised me (and may be a key to winning for the Wings). While Reinhart has 41 goals, the Panthers only have six guys with 10 or more goals. The Wings have 12 guys with 10 or more. And the Panthers only have six guys with a shooting % above 10%. The Wings have 15 guys above 10%.

So if the Wings can hold their top six guys in check and they shoot the damn puck every chance they get, they should have a statistical advantage. And if someone like Fischer or Chiarot should happen to "bump into" Kachucklehead at high speed, well, that would help too.

The X factor in the game probably will be the play of Lyon vs. Bobrovsky. Alex needs to have an outstanding game and not just a "good" game. And for cripes sake, everyone needs to come out ready to play full throtle from the first puck drop. That'll help a lot.