Panthers Postgame Notes – 2.9 vs. DET

FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. DETROIT RED WINGS

FEB. 9, 2021

BB&T Center – Sunrise, FL

FLORIDA PANTHERSDETROIT RED WINGS
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  • Florida improved to 7-1-2 on the season, moving into second place in the Central Division. The Cats play a two-game series versus the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning starting Thursday at BB&T Center.
  • Patric Hornqvist notched two points (1-1-2), including his fourth power-play goal of the season. His four power-play goals are tied for third-most among NHL players this season.
  • Alex Wennberg tallied a goal for the second consecutive game (2-0-2).
  • Jonathan Huberdeau posted two assists (0-2-2). He has recorded five assists over four games vs. DET this season.
  • Aaron Ekblad registered an assist on Hornqvist’s power-play tally. He has notched seven points (3-4-7) through Florida’s 10 games.
  • Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 31 of 32 DET shots (.969 save percentage), improving his record to 4-0-1. It is the second-longest season-opening point streak by a goaltender in Panthers history behind John Vanbiesbrouck in 1996-97 (6-0-3).
  • Radko Gudas and Brett Connolly each recorded six hits.
  • The Panthers penalty kill killed off all three DET power play opportunities. FLA has not given up a power-play goal against DET in their four matchups [19/19].
  • Florida held its opponent to one goal against for the second time in their past three games. Eight of Florida’s 10 games have been decided by one goal.

PANTHERS POSTGAME QUOTES – FEB. 9, 2021

Head Coach Joel Quenneville

“I thought he [goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky] had a real big sequence late in the second (period), three big saves in a row. Rock solid in the third. He had to make some big, timely saves as well and it was one of those games where you look back, goaltending was a factor in the win.”

“I think we play faster, harder and with more purpose. I think we have some depth, with a number of guys who are pushing to get into the lineup or trying to stay in the lineup.”

“The guys responded yesterday with a good effort in practice and were focused going into the game today. I thought we got better as the period went on in the first. Our second had an excellent start and our third it was a pretty even game. But at the same time, I think when we’re in these kinds of games we’re comfortable.”

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky


“I was feeling good. It was nice to be back, to play, to see the puck. I wanted to go out and keep up my pace and have a higher intensity. It was a good win for us.”

“It’s good to test out all the different tools that you have. It’s definitely good to get those close games and close them out. It gives confidence in our defensive zone coverage and everybody on the team so we can close out those games.”

“Those moments definitely give you a boost of energy, a boost of confidence. It’s good to have those but you’re not going to have them every night. It’s good to have that opportunity to come up big for the team.”

Forward Patric Hornqvist


“It felt good to see the puck go in. Eky [defenseman Aaron Ekblad] did a good a good job getting the puck through, I just tried to screen the goalie and it hit my chest and went in. It felt good.”

“Lately we’ve come up with a few good goals for us. It’s nice for Wenny [forward Alex Wennberg] to get some goals, he’s playing really well. Obviously Huby [forward Jonathan Huberdeau] is a great player and I just try to create space for those two and take the puck to the net. We’ve got some traction here for sure.”

“I think we’re playing really well over 60 minutes. We don’t change with what the score is, our only bump in the road was the last game there against Detroit. They out-quicked us a little bit and we out-quicked them tonight.”

“We blocked shots, we were in the lanes, we were hard on pucks and hard on sticks. That’s what good teams do, they find a way to win different types of games. Today was a tight one but I think we were the better team for most of the night.”