Panthers Look to Get Back on Track in Detroit
By
Jameson Olive
FloridaPanthers.com
After stringing together consecutive wins against Buffalo and Toronto, the Panthers (13-14-6) stumbled in their rematch with the Maple Leafs on Thursday night, losing 6-1 while allowing a season-high three power play goals. Overall, Florida now sits at 6-9-2 on the road this season.
"We talked about some of those mistakes, but it's a positive day," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said after Friday's practice in Detroit. We've got a big game tomorrow against a team we're trying to chase. It's a four-point game.
"We just want to make sure we come out and we play well. If you have some success here, that's three out of your last going into Chicago with a chance to go four out of five. I think we'd take that rolling into Christmas break."
The Red Wings (15-16-5) currently sit three points ahead of Florida in the Atlantic Division, but have played three more games. Detroit beat the Panthers 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 20 in Sunrise.
"These divisional and conference games are important," Boughner said. "These are the teams that you're trying to catch. It's huge. The points, we need every point right now. It's an important start for us tomorrow, and this is an important game for us."
A silver lining in their lopsided loss to the Maple Leafs was a goal from rookie Henrik Borgstrom, who spoiled goaltender Frederick Andersen's shutout bid midway through the third period. In the three games since being recalled from AHL Springfield on Dec. 15, he's tallied two points.
"He's playing well," Boughner said. "He's smart away from the puck. I know he scored last night on the power play and that's great, but I concentrate on how he's playing against his matchups, in the circle, his faceoffs, things like that. He's done a real good job. He's taking steps."
A breakout game for the 21-year-old center, Borgstrom also skated a career-high 15:09 while wracking up two blocked shots and one takeaway to compliment his goal in Toronto. The 23rd overall pick the 2016 NHL Draft, he continues to see an increased role as the second line pivot.
In seven career NHL games, the Helsinki, Finland native has notched two goals and one assist.
"I think the first two games were pretty good, but the last game I think I was pretty bad for the first two periods," said Borgstrom, who is expected to center Frank Vatrano and Mike Hoffman against the Red Wings. "Overall, it's been nice. I've been better than in the preseason, for sure."
When asked if his goal could be the first of many, the bright-eyed rookie lit up.
"Yeah, I hope so," he said with a smile. "That would be cool."
Like the Panthers, the Red Wings have been struggling as of late, going 2-4-1 over their last seven games. In that span, they've been held to two-or-fewer goals four times. Returning home after a 1-1-1 road trip, they snapped a four-game skid with a 4-1 win in Carolina on Thursday.
Detroit is 8-8-3 at home this season.
"A lot of teams are winning, and a lot of teams are playing pretty well," Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk said of tonight's divisional matchup. "When you can beat a team, keep them where they're at [in the standings] and jump up two [points], it's definitely big."
Dylan Larkin leads the Red Wings in both goals (15) and points (34). A thorn in Florida's side throughout his young career, the 22-year-old forward has tallied six goals and six assists in 13 career games against the Panthers, including two points in their previous matchup on Oct. 20.
With the holiday's on the horizon, the Panthers are looking at this weekend's back-to-back set as a good chance to pick up four points in the standings. That said, they also know that they can't look ahead to Sunday's matchup in Chicago and must remain focused on the Red Wings.
"I think if we win the next two, that's four out of our last five," Pysyk said. "That's something we'd definitely look forward to going into the break. It starts tomorrow afternoon. We've got to get the first one before we get both."
NOTES
-- Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has compiled 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) over his last 22 games. The 23-year-old center is tied for second on the team in goals (15) and points (33), while also averaging the most ice time per game among NHL forwards (23:02).
-- Keith Yandle ranks first among Panthers defensemen in points (30) and assists (25), while also leading the NHL in power-play points (21). The 32-year-old has also tallied 14 points (one goal, 13 assists), including 12 on the power play, over his last 17 games.
-- Aaron Ekblad ranks first among Florida's defenseman and tied for fifth among all NHL blueliners with seven goals. With just two more goals, the 22-year-old will surpass Robert Svehla (61) for first place on the franchise's all-time goals list by a defenseman.
-- Since Nov. 24, Jonathan Huberdeau ranks second in the NHL with 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) over 12 games. In that span, he's registered multiple points in 10 of 13 games. The 25-year-old forward leads the Panthers with 40 points (nine goals, 31 assists) this season.
-- Evgenii Dadonov leads the Panthers in goals (16) and even-strength goals (10).
-- The Panthers have scored on the power play in 21 of their last 24 games.
GEICO GOALIE MATCHUP OF THE GAME (UNCONFIRMED)
Roberto Luongo (7-6-1, 3.14 GAA, .900 SV%) vs. Jonathan Bernier (5-9-1, 3.38 GAA, .898 SV%)
Luongo is expected to make his fourth consecutive start for the Panthers after allowing five goals on 22 shots during Thursday's loss in Toronto. Prior to that start, the 39-year-old had secured wins in consecutive games, allowing just five total goals in that span. In his career against Detroit, he's gone 18-15-7 with a 2.78 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
Bernier is likely to get the nod in net for the Red Wings after making 38 saves in Thursday's win at Carolina. The 30-year-old has started each of the last three games for Detroit, making at least 30 saves in each outing but only picking up one win in that span. In his career against Florida, he has going 3-5-0 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.
PROJECTED LINEUP (NO MORNING SKATE)
Forwards
Jonathan Huberdeau - Aleksander Barkov - Evgenii Dadonov
Frank Vatrano - Henrik Borgstrom - Mike Hoffman
Troy Brouwer - Jared McCann - Denis Malgin
Jayce Hawryluk - Juho Lammikko - Colton Sceviour
Defense
Keith Yandle - Aaron Ekblad
Mike Matheson - Mark Pysyk
Alexander Petrovic - MacKenzie Weegar
Goalies
Roberto Luongo
James Reimer
Scratches:Bogdan Kiselevich, Micheal Haley, Nick Bjugstad (upper body)
Injured Reserve: Derek MacKenzie (shoulder), Jamie McGinn (back), Vincent Trocheck (ankle)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- Dec. 15: F Henrik Borgstrom and F Jayce Hawryluk were recalled from Springfield (AHL).
- Dec. 15: F Anthony Greco and F Dryden Hunt were returned to Springfield (AHL).
- Dec. 11: F Anthony Greco was recalled from Springfield (AHL).
HOW TO WATCH
When:Saturday, Dec. 22, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, MI
TV:Fox Sports Florida
Stream:
HERE
Florida Panthers Radio Network:560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 640 WMEN (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 1370 WAXE (Treasure Coast)
Watch Party:Thanks to the new "Territory on Tap" program, every road game now offers a chance for a watch party in South Florida! To see which local bars and restaurants will have drink specials and giveaways for today's game,
visit the official "Territory on Tap" page!
