PREVIEW: Red Wings want to bring competitive drive Monday vs. Panthers

DETROIT -- While the Detroit Red Wings haven't been getting the results they want lately, head coach Derek Lalonde said his players continue to bring a high compete level to the rink every day.

"We played Boston great," Lalonde said. "Our performance in Nashville, we gave up literally five chances. We'll take that any night of the year. And you saw it (Saturday), it could be a worry going forward. When you're doing some quality things and not getting results, it could be deflating. Sometimes, that's the reality of where we are down the stretch against a lineup like that (Colorado Avalanche). But it will be our job as a group not to let up."
The Red Wings have gone 2-5-1 so far in March, but Detroit is aiming to turn things around starting Monday night against the Florida Panthers at Little Caesars Arena.
Puck drop between Detroit (30-29-9; 69 points) and Florida (35-27-7; 77 points) is set for 7 p.m., with TV broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit and NHL Network. Ken Kal and Paul Woods will have the call on the Red Wings Radio Network.
"We have got to finish things out the right way," captain Dylan Larkin said. "We can't just go out there and not give it our all. We have fans coming to the rink, good crowds and energy in the building."
Monday's game marks the first half of a back-to-back set for the Red Wings, who will face the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night at Enterprise Center.
On Saturday, Simon Edvinson, who was Detroit's sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft,
made his NHL debut
in the club's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche. The 20-year-old Red Wings defenseman recorded one shot on goal in 15:34 of ice time.

"I thought he played well," Larkin said about the 6-foot-6 Edvinsson. "You can obviously see his size and skating ability. I think if we're gonna take a step as a team, he and a lot of the young players are getting a big opportunity in the last 14 games here. We're gonna need him, and all of us, to continue to develop and get better."
The Panthers enter Monday riding a six-game point streak after rallying to defeat the New Jersey Devils, 4-2, on Saturday. Florida currently trails the Pittsburgh Penguins by one point for the second and final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Matthew Tkachuk paces the Panthers in assists (60) and points (92), while Carter Verhaeghe leads the way with 34 goals. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has appeared in 46 games for Florida this season, owning a 23-17-3 record with a 3.00 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
The Panthers have won both games against the Red Wings this season, earning a 5-1 decision at FLA Live Arena on Dec. 8 before beating Detroit, 3-2, at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 6.