FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. DETROIT RED WINGS
APRIL 21, 2022
FLA Live Arena – Sunrise, Fla.
| FLORIDA PANTHERS | DETROIT RED WINGS |
| 5 | 2 |
PANTHERS POSTGAME QUOTES
Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar
On what securing the Atlantic Division would mean:
“It means a lot. We have put a lot of hard work in to this season. Locking up the division is a big accomplishment for us. There is obviously a bigger picture here. We will enjoy that, locking up the division and getting the home ice advantage for us in the playoffs here. Other than that, we are trying to build our game and have fun doing it.”
On Florida’s current win streak:
“I think we’ve been pretty hot all year. We just try to build our game every night. That’s been the message down the stretch here — just keep building our game, the right habits, and that’ll lead to success in the playoffs at the right time.”
On Florida’s desire to compete:
“We like to win. It’s been a lot of fun. I don’t think we’d ever take the foot off the gas, even if we had the division locked up either way. We are competitors. We have done a great job every game being prepared, being focused. Doing the job at the right times here down the stretch.”
Forwad Noel Acciari
On Florida’s current success:
“Everyone is having a lot of fun. We are taking care of business. We know every game is important, especially where we are. We are going to get every team’s best game. We know we have to bring it every night. It is a good feeling going into the playoffs.”
On Florida’s team chemistry:
“It is the camaraderie in the locker room. Everyone, when they come to the rink, they know it’s time to work. We know when to have fun and we know when to work. I think it has blended really well for us. We are hard on ourselves at times when we are playing not the best hockey, but we know when we have better. I think we are able to show that we are never out a game. We want to play with a lead most games. Playoffs is that different type of style of hockey.”
Interim Head Coach Andrew Brunette
On remaining competitive after clinching:
“I think it’s the maturity of the group. I think they recognize the real season begins when the regular season is over, and they’re very hungry to be great. They’ve had that mindset and we’ve just continuously tried to get a little bit better. We got a little bit loose and then we tightened up our game for a little bit and it shows that they’re willing to do the right things to get the end result here, which is [to] win the Stanley Cup. So, that’s a step, it probably is a mandate to just keep going, put ourselves in a really good position to get some home ice. But we all understand in playoffs, home ice doesn’t really mean a whole lot. It’s where your game’s at and that’s what we’ve been focused on here.”
On this special Florida Panthers team:
“I think we all recognize that; I know they feel that. You don’t have too many times—in your career or in your life—where you can be on a team like this. We’re a long, long way from getting to where we want to be, but I think we’ve enjoyed each other. They love playing with each other, they love to compete together, and those are all fun signs. For me, just to be part of that is pretty special. There’s so much work left to do, but just the day-to-day grind—I think we have to be appreciative and feel that we’re lucky to be part of this. Enjoy the moment, but understand there’s a lot more moments that we need to attain to get the big one.”
CATS STATS
- With tonight’s 5-2 win against the Detroit and the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Florida Panthers have clinched first place in the Atlantic Division. In addition, the Panthers secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in franchise history, guaranteeing home-ice advantage through at least the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- The Panthers earned their 12TH consecutive win, tied for the longest win streak in franchise history (also Dec. 15, 2015-Jan. 10, 2016).
- The win also marked their 10th consecutive home win, Florida’s second home winning streak of at least 10 games this season behind their franchise-record 11-game home winning streak to start the season (Oct. 14-Nov. 24, 2021).
- In NHL history, only two other teams have recorded multiple 10-game home winning streaks in a season: DET (1995-96) and MTL (1955-56).
- The Panthers league-leading 33 home wins this season (33-6-0) are tied for the third-most in a season in NHL history. The only teams with more are PHI (1975-76) and DET (1995-96), with 36 each.
- Florida’s league-leading 56 wins (56-15-6) in 2021-22 are tied for the ninth-most in NHL history. The league record for wins in a season is 62, held by TBL (2018-19) and DET (1995-96).
- The Panthers league-leading 322 goals this season are the most by any NHL team since 1995-96, when PIT (362), COL (326) and DET (325) all tallied more. Over that span, Florida’s 118 points are tied for the sixth-most of any team in one season.
- Florida’s league-leading 184 goals at home this season are the most by any team since 1995-96, when PIT tallied 215.
- Jonathan Huberdeau notched two assists (0-2-2). He has posted five helpers over his past two games. At 113 points (30-83-113), he is now tied with Connor McDavid for the league scoring lead.
- Huberdeau’s league-leading 83 assists are the most by any skater in one season since Nikita Kucherov (TBL) amassed 87 in 2018-19.
- Sergei Bobrovsky earned his 38th win (38-6-3) of the season, tied for the league lead. Bobrovsky has earned a win in each of his past 12 decisions. The win also marked his 25th win this season at FLA Live Arena (25-3-0), also tied for the league lead.
- Aleksander Barkov tallied his team-leading and career-high 38th goal of the season, extending his point streak to three games (4-2-5). He also won 10 of his 11 faceoffs (91%).
- Mason Marchment recorded two points (1-1-2).
- MacKenzie Weegar tallied his eighth goal of the season, surpassing his previous career high of seven from 2019-20.
- Sam Reinhart scored his team-leading 14th power-play goal of the season.
- Noel Acciari scored in his return after missing the past 10 games with injury and won five of his six faceoffs (83%).
- Joe Thornton notched his 1,109th career assist.
LOOKING AHEAD
Next up for the Cats — The Panthers are OFF tomorrow, April 22. The Panthers will face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at FLA Live Arena at 7 P.M. (ET) on Saturday, April 23.
