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Red Wings Look to Halt Red-Hot Panthers

Unbeaten Florida to Play First Game Following Quenneville Resignation

· Oct 29 - 4 minutes read

The Detroit Red Wings play host to the Florida Panthers on Friday night at the Little Caesars Arena. Both teams have gotten off to great starts, but it has been the Florida Panthers that are leading the way.

The Panthers have won their first seven games but are playing one day after coach Joel Quenneville announced his resignation in the wake of the Chicago Blackhawks’ sexual abuse scandal.

Red Wings Look to Cool Off Red-Hot Panthers — Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP

ESPN+ will provide the television coverage for the game that is set to begin at 6 p.m. ET. The Florida Panthers are the NHL betting favorites at -180 and the over/under is set at six total goals.

Panthers at Red Wings Betting Preview

The 7-0-0 Florida Panthers travel to Detroit on Friday night for a matchup with the 4-2-1 Red Wings. This is the first matchup of the season between the two teams and it’s a game that will draw plenty of national attention.

Florida has outscored opponents by nearly 2.5 goals per game and has been nothing short of dominating during this run. The Panthers just picked up a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins in their most recent matchup.

Detroit is currently riding a two-game winning streak and both of those wins came on the road against Chicago and Washington. The Red Wings have gone just 2-2 at home and that is something that will need to improve.

Panthers Playing Defense?

The Florida Panthers were expected to be a great offensive team but they have also been solid on the defensive end. Florida is giving up less than two goals per game, and that has allowed the Panthers to play free on the other end of the ice.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been the biggest star for the Panthers, posting a perfect 5-0 record. Florida plays a fast style on both ends of the ice, but Bobrovsky has been great at keeping pucks out of the net.

Jonathan Huberdeau leads the Panthers with nine total points on three goals and six assists. Florida has a deep and talented lineup that has been able to produce more than four goals per game.

Red Wings Hard to Figure Out

The Detroit Red Wings are averaging 3.29 goals while also giving up the exact same amount. Detroit has really struggled on special teams through the first seven games, but they have been great when it is five-on-five action.

Tyler Bertuzzi leads the Red Wings with nine points on the year, but Detroit is waiting on Dylan Larkin to get things going. Defenseman Moritz Seider has gotten in on the offensive act as well, but it’s going to take a big effort to win this game.

“I think we’ve infused more talent; we have a better hockey team and so you have a better chance to come back,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “With that, you also have more belief, and belief that you can come back in those types of situations. I didn’t feel any frustration or panic on the bench at all. We just kinda kept playing.

Goaltender Thomas Greiss has gone 3-1 so far in net, and he will likely draw the assignment in this matchup. Detroit will have to first slow down the Florida attack if it wants any shot of winning a third straight game.

Panthers Win Again

The Panthers are going to lose a game at some point, but it’s hard to see their first loss coming in Detroit on Friday night. Florida just doesn’t allow many goals, and they are facing a Detroit team that doesn’t always score it that well.

The 2021 season has gotten off to a solid start for Detroit, but this team is not expected to be a true playoff contender. The Red Wings will keep this game close, but Florida will leave Detroit with a win. Bet on the Panthers to cover the NHL betting lines set by sportsbooks.