Earning 24 out of a possible 30 points thus far, Florida not only owns the best record in the Central Division (11-2-2), but also sits atop the entire NHL in total points percentage (.800).
"I think we want to do things in a positive way," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said after yesterday's one-sided showing. "We want to get off to a good start and build off what we're doing. How we move going forward, being respectful of our opponents has always got to be in place. Let's incentivize ourselves knowing that the better we play, the more fun we're having."
With every line and pairing on the same page and pushing in the same direction, the Panthers quickly jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead early on in an eventual 7-2 victory over Detroit on Friday. Patric Hornqvist scored twice in the win to push his team-high goal total to eight, while MacKenzie Weegar, Aaron Ekblad, Juho Lammikko, Aleksander Barkov and Anthony Duclair also lit the lamp.
Filling up the back of the net, the Panthers enter tonight's matchup with the league's fourth-best offense (3.60 goals per game) and sixth-ranked power play (30.2%). During their winning streak - which includes victories over Tampa Bay, Carolina and Detroit - they've produced a whopping 17 goals. That's just one fewer than their franchise record for most goals in a three-game span.
Cracking the scoresheet in all three of those games, Jonathan Huberdeau leads Florida with 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) this campaign, including seven assists against the Red Wings.
"We feel good about ourselves," Hornqvist said. "We can't just sit back now because we've been winning here lately. We've just got to keep working and doing the right things. You see what that does to our team. When we're playing the right way we're as good as anyone."
Chris Driedger has started each of the last three games for the Panthers, but could be due for a night off against the Red Wings tonight given that he stopped 30 of 32 shots during yesterday's 7-2 win less than 24 hours ago. If that's the case, expect Sergei Bobrovsky to return to the net.
Sitting at 5-1-1 with a 3.33 goals-against average and .884 save percentage, Bobrovsky is still looking to settle into a groove this season, but has had plenty of success against Detroit. In his two starts against the Red Wings, he's gone 2-0-0 behind an outstanding .949 save percentage.
Quenneville is expected to announce tonight's starting goaltender at 3:15 p.m. ET.
As for the Red Wings, who dropped 13 of their last 15 games to fall into last place in the Central Division at 4-12-3, they'll likely have revenge on their mind after a blowout loss on home ice. In that 15-game span, they've struggled at both ends of the ice, scoring 28 goals while allowing 53.
Breaking out of a four-game point drought yesterday, Dylan Larkin leads the Red Wings with 10 points (four goals, six assists). Just behind the captain, Anthony Mantha, Bobby Ryan and Filip Hronek have registered nine points apiece, while Mantha and Ryan also each have five goals.
After stopping 23 of 26 shots in a relief appearance yesterday, it's likely that Jonathan Bernier, who replaced Thomas Greiss after he gave up four goals on 13 shots in the first period, will be back between the pipes against the Panthers tonight. In seven appearances this season, the 32-year-old has gone 3-2-0 on top of a 3.01 goals-against average and .896 save percentage.
Over their last 13 games against Detroit, the Cats have gone 11-1-1.
"We're looking for them to respond tomorrow," Duclair said. "For us, it's going to be the same mentality. We're a confident group right now and we just want to keep things going."
