MARCH 30, 2021 vs. DETROIT RED WINGS
BB&T Center | 7 P.M. ET
Television: Fox Sports Florida now Bally Sports Florida
Radio: 560 WQAM| 640 WMEN | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM CH. 223/STREAMING 932
PANTHERS vs. RED WINGS
ALL-TIME vs. DET: 27-19-5-6
ALL-TIME HOME at DET: 11-11-2-5
2020-21 vs. DET: 4-2-0
TEAM STATS
| FLORIDA (22-9-4) | DETROIT (12-20-4) | |
| GOALS FOR | 114 (T-7th most) | 79 (T-29th most) |
| GOALS AGAINST | 96 (14th fewest) | 115 (25th fewest) |
| POWER PLAY % | 24.8 (7th) | 11.5 (29th) |
| PENALTY KILL % | 80.4 (T-12th) | 72.3 (31st) |
| SHOTS FOR PER-GAME | 34.4 (2nd most) | 27.7 (T-28th most) |
| SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME | 30.3 (17th fewest) | 31.0 (T-20th fewest) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 52.1 (8th) | 46.7 (28th) |
| FACEOFF WIN % | 50.0 (17th) | 51.0 (10th) |
CATS STATS
- Florida owns a 11-2-1 record over their last 14 games against Detroit and owns a 4-1-0 mark over their last five games against the Red Wings at BB&T Center. Over the 14-game span, the Panthers have outscored the Red Wings 47-28 and have tallied at least one power play goal in nine of their last 10 meetings.
- The Panthers penalty kill over their last nine games against DET has not surrendered a goal (25/25).
- Jonathan Huberdeau leads FLA with seven points (0-7-7) vs. DET this season, while both Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger own a 2-1-0 record vs. DET. Through the season series against the Red Wings, Bobrovsky has posted a .942 save percentage vs. DET and Driedger has notched a .930 save percentage.
- Over 15 of Florida’s games in the month of March, Aleksander Barkov (5-11-16) and Jonathan Huberdeau (5-11-16) each have recorded a team-leading 16 points, while Carter Verhaeghe has notched a team-leading eight goals and +11 rating, ranking tied for seventh in the NHL for goals and tied for fourth in plus/minus. Over 10 appearances in March, Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 7-3-0 mark. Florida owns a shots-per-game average of 34.9 through March, the second-highest in the NHL.
- The Panthers are tied for the third-highest win percentage in games where they have surrendered the first goal (.591), while owning the most wins in the NHL when scored against first (13). Florida surrendered the first goal in their victory on March 28 at DAL, scoring four unanswered tallies to secure the win. Florida has scored 40 goals in the third period this season, ranking fourth-most in the NHL as of March 28.
- Jonathan Huberdeau enters tonight’s game with four points (2-2-4) over his last two games. He produced a three-point performance (2-1-3) on March 28 at DAL, marking his fourth game with at least three points this season and his third multi-goal game. Huberdeau is the sixth NHL player this season to have reached 40 points and only the second in the Central Division.
- Huberdeau leads the Panthers with 40 points, 27 assists and 17 power-play points. His 17 power-play points ranks tied for fifth in the NHL. The native of Saint-Jerome, Quebec leads FLA with 12 multi-point performances this season. Florida’s franchise leader in assists (316) and points (477) is expected to play in his 572nd NHL game tonight, tying Roberto Luongo for the fourth-most games played in FLA franchise history.
- On March 27 at DAL, Carter Verhaeghe produced a career-best four points including his second career hat trick and first with FLA. He last scored a hat trick on Jan. 7, 2020 vs. VAN. Verhaeghe’s hat trick had three goals scored in different fashions (EVG, PPG, SHG), becoming the third Panthers player in franchise history to score a hat trick with an even-strength goal, power play goal and shorthanded goal, joining Colton Sceviour (Oct. 30, 2016 at DET) and Nathan Horton (Dec. 14, 2009 at NYI).
- Verhaeghe’s power play goal marked his first power play point with FLA, while his shorthanded marker was the first of his NHL career. He has amassed 11 points (7-4-11) over his past 11 games and has scored a team-leading 13 even-strength goals this season. His EVG total ranks tied for seventh in the NHL, while his +15 rating is tied for third among NHL forwards.
- Noel Acciari enters tonight’s game with four assists over his last four games. Over his last four games, Acciari has produced a 58.0 faceoff win percentage and 10:48 shorthanded time on ice, the most among FLA forwards. The 29-year-old native of Johnston, R.I., leads all FLA forwards with 41 blocked shots and ranks second among FLA forwards with 57 hits. Over 15 games in March, Acciari has posted 10 points (3-7-10). Acciari blocked five shots March 28 at DAL, tied for most by a Panther in a game this season.
- Sergei Bobrovsky owns an 8-3-1 record over his last 12 appearances. Over that 12-game span, Bobrovsky has posted a .912 save percentage. The 32-year-old netminder owns a 6-2-2 record on home ice this season. Over his past three starts at BB&T Center (since March 13), Bobrovsky owns a 2-1- 0 record and a .920 save percentage.
- MacKenzie Weegar leads Florida’s defensemen in even-strength scoring with 18 points, tied for third-most among NHL defensemen. He has produced nine points (1-8-9) over his past 12 games and eight of those points have come at even strength, which ranks tied for fourth-most among NHL D-men over that span (since March 7). The Ottawa, Ontario native leads FLA’s defense corps with a +12 rating, ranks second in average time on ice per game (22:12), and third in shots (60). Weegar is tied for the team lead in blocked shots (43) and ranks second in hits (79).
- Alex Wennberg has notched four points (2-2-4) over his last eight games. Over those eight games, Wennberg has produced a team-leading 54.4 faceoff percentage.
- Owen Tippett has notched two points (1-1-2) over his past two games and three points (1-2-3) over his past five contests. The 22-year-old has registered a team-leading 11 shots on goal since March 25.
- Radko Gudas stands as FLA’s leader with 159 hits this season, including a league-leading 22 hits since March 21. On March 23 at CHI, Gudas logged a career-high 11 hits, the most recorded in a single game by a Panther since the NHL began tracking hits (2005-06). The native of Prague, Czech Republic, is one assist shy of his 100th NHL assist.
- Keith Yandle leads Florida’s defensemen in power-play scoring with 15 points (1-14-15), tied for third-most PP points among NHL D-men. The 34-year-old owns the NHL’s longest active “Ironman” streak (901), which began on March 26, 2009.
- Florida is one of two teams (PHI) to have had three different players register hat tricks this season: Noel Acciari, Jonathan Huberdeau, Carter Verhaeghe.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– March 29: F Aleksi Heponiemi reassigned to FLA Taxi Squad from Syracuse (AHL)
– March 27: F Patric Hornqvist placed on IR, F Brett Connolly, D Riley Stillman recalled from FLA Taxi Squad, D Anton Stralman loaned to FLA Taxi Squad
– March 25: F Eetu Luostarinen recalled from FLA Taxi Squad, F Brett Connolly loaned to FLA Taxis Squad, D Noah Juulsen assigned to Syracuse
(AHL) on conditioning loan
FLA-DET CONNECTIONS
- FLA forward Anthony Duclair and DET defenseman Marc Staal were teammates on NYR in 2014-15.
- DET forward Valtteri Filppula and FLA forward Aleksander Barkov were teammates on Team Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
- FLA defenseman Aaron Ekblad and DET forward Dylan Larkin were teammates on Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
- FLA defenseman Aaron Ekblad and DET forward Anthony Mantha were teammates on Team Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
- FLA forwards Vinnie Hinostroza and Frank Vatrano were teammates with DET forward Dylan Larkin on Team USA at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. Vatrano, Larkin and DET forward Luke Glendening were also teammates on Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
- FLA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and DET forward Vladislav Namestnikov were teammates on Team Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
- DET forward Sam Gagner’s father Dave Gagner played 114 games for FLA (1997-98 to 1998-99), recording 62 points (24-38-62).
- DET forward Tyler Bertuzzi’s uncle Todd Bertuzzi played seven games for FLA (2006-07), registering seven points (1-6-7).
- FLA defenseman Kevin Connauton and DET defenseman Danny Dekeyser both attended Western Michigan University.
- FLA Professional Scout Patrick Eaves played 197 games for DET (2009-10 to 2013-14), amassing 56 points (29-27-56).
- FLA Assistant Coach Ulf Samuelsson played four regular season games and nine playoff games for DET (1998-99), recording three assists in the playoffs.
- FLA Video Coach Andrew Brewer served as video coach for DET for the 2014-15 season.
CHASING FRANCHISE HISTORY
| Franchise Goals | Franchise Assists | Franchise Points |
| 1. Olli Jokinen (188) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (316) | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau (477) |
| 2. Aleksander Barkov (168) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (276) | 2. Aleksander Barkov (444) |
| 3. Jonathan Huberdeau (161) | 3. Stephen Weiss (249) | 3. Olli Jokinen (419) |
| 4. Scott Mellanby (157) | 4. Olli Jokinen (231) | 4. Stephen Weiss (394) |
| 5. Pavel Bure (152) | 5. Robert Svehla (229) | 5. Scott Mellanby (354) |
PANTHERS LEADERS
Games Played: 7 Players (35)
Goals: Verhaeghe (15)
Assists: Huberdeau (27)
Points: Huberdeau (40)
Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist (7)
Power-Play Points: Huberdeau (17)
Shorthanded Goals: Barkov/Verhaeghe (1)
Shorthanded Points: Barkov/Acciari/Weegar/Verhaeghe (1)
Shots: Barkov (112)
PIM: Weegar (37)
+/-: Verhaeghe (+17)
Faceoff Win % (Min. 100 faceoffs): Barkov (53.2)
Blocked Shots: Weegar/Gudas (43)
Hits: Gudas (159)
TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:05)
PP TOI/GP: Yandle (4:14)
SH TOI/GP: Acciari (2:53)
Wins: Bobrovsky (13)
Shutouts: Driedger (1)
ACTIVE STREAKS
Goal Streak None
Assist Streak Huberdeau (2 Games, 2 Assists)
Point Streak Huberdeau (2 Games, 2-2-4), Tippett (2 Games, 1-1-2), Ekblad (2 Games, 1-1-2)
TONIGHT AT BB&T CENTER
- Tonight is ‘Truly Tuesday’ at BB&T Center. Fans can purchase 12 oz Truly Hard Seltzer cans for $5 at select concession stands and bars and are available through mobile ordering.
- Today, fans will be able to give back to the Florida Panthers Foundation through the 50/50 raffle. Fans at BB&T Center can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets at select kiosks throughout the arena or online for fans who are within a 75-mile radius of the game at FlaPanthers5050.com and in the Florida Panthers mobile application. Ticket prices include: 5 for $10, 20 for $20, 80 for $40 and 300 for $100.
- Contactless, Mobile Food Ordering is now available for all games at BB&T Center. The Florida Panthers are offering fans safe and convenient purchasing experiences while at the BB&T Center, enabling mobile ordering through the NHL league-wide app, and contactless purchases and payments via self-service kiosks and user-friendly Clover devices at concession stands throughout the arena. Learn more at FloridaPanthers.com/MobileOrdering.
- The BB&T Center is the first National Hockey League Building to Achieve Well Health-Safety Certification. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and into the future. The Florida Panthers & BB&T Center guests can expect:
- WELL Certified and improved cleaning procedures throughout the building
- Routine maintenance and improved air filtration through arena
- Emergency response plan and protocols
- Robust safety plans for employee health and wellness
PANTHERS COMMUNITY HEROES
- City Furniture Military Hero: Gene Roberts
Tonight’s Hero Among Us is Vietnam War Veteran Gene Roberts. Gene served in the US Air Force from 1967-71. He acted as a Tactical Air Controller and assisted with search and rescue during his deployment to Danang, Vietnam in July of 1969.
- BB&T (Now Truist) Territory Teammate: Debbi Pothmann
GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY
April 2, 2016: The Panthers’ defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 for the team’s 44th win of the season, the most regular-season wins in franchise history. (The previous record, 43-27-6-6, was set in 1999–2000). The Cats would go on to post a record of 47-26-9 in 2015–16, their best regular season finish in club history.
