Panthers Pregamer 2.7.21 vs. DET

FEB. 7, 2021 vs. DETROIT RED WINGS

BB&T Center | 3 P.M.
Television: 
Fox Sports Florida

Radio: 560 WQAM | 640 WMEN | 100.3 WCTH | 107.9/1370 WZTA | SIRIUSXM 219/STREAMING 932


PANTHERS vs. RED WINGS

ALL-TIME vs. DET: 25-17-5-6

ALL-TIME HOME vs. DET: 10-10-2-5

STREAKS: FLA has won each of its last eight games against DET (8-0-0) and earned points in each of its last 10 games against DET (9-0-1)…FLA has

won each of its last three home games vs. DET (3-0-0) and earned points in each of its last eight home games vs. DET (5-0-3)

2020-21 vs. DET: 2-0-0

LAST HOME WIN vs. DET: Feb. 28, 2019 (5-4 W)

TEAM STATS

 FLORIDA (6-0-2)DETROIT (2-8-2)
GOALS FOR28 (T-20th)22 (31st)
GOALS AGAINST22 (27th)43 (4th)
POWER PLAY %36.0 (4th)10.0 (T-10th)
PENALTY KILL %76.9 (22nd)71.1 (29th)
SHOTS FOR PER-GAME32.5 (3rd)25.5 (29th)
SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME30.8 (12th)29.7 (18th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %52.1 (8th)46.8 (27th)
FACEOFF WIN %50.1 (16th)52.1 (9th)


CATS STATS

  • The Panthers enter tonight’s game with a 6-0-2 record over their first eight games of the season and own the NHL’s best points percentage (.875). The Cats’ eight-game point streak marks their second-longest point streak to start a season in franchise history and longest since the institution of a shootout tiebreaker and elimination of ties in 2005-06. The Panthers are the only remaining team in the NHL without a regulation loss.
  • In the span of their last six games, the Panthers own an 85.7 penalty kill percentage (18/21). The Panthers penalty kill over their last five games against DET has not surrendered a goal (16/16).
  • Florida’s 10-game point streak vs. DET (9-0-1) is their longest active point streak against any opponent. Over their last eight matchups, FLA has outscored DET 30-14 and has tallied at least one power play goal in each of their last six contests.
  • The Panthers have played in seven consecutive one-goal games. Per NHL Stats, with one more one-goal contest, the Panthers will match the longest run of consecutive one-goal matchups in franchise history tying the previous two occasions: Oct. 13 – Nov. 4, 2014 and Jan. 25 – Feb. 13, 2011.
  • Aleksander Barkov enters tonight’s contest on a season-high four-game point streak, four-game assist streak and two-game goal streak. The Panthers captain has registered 11 points (4-7-11) over Florida’s first eight games of the season and has produced seven points (3-4-7) over his last four games. He has recorded 27 points (10-17-27) over 27 career games vs. DET.
  • Jonathan Huberdeau enters tonight’s game as the Panthers leader in points (4-8-12) and assists (8). He is one point shy of his 450th NHL point, while standing three assists away from his 300th NHL assist. He has produced 23 points (7-16-23) over 26 career games vs. DET.
  • Carter Verhaeghe enters tonight’s match-up leading the Cats with six goals. The native of Toronto, Ontario leads the Panthers in even-strength scoring, tallying all six of his goals and all nine of his points at even strength.
  • Today is Aaron Ekblad‘s 25th birthday. Averaging a team-high 25:59 TOI per game, the native of Windsor, Ontario, has logged a team-leading total 203:55 of ice time over the club’s eight games played. Ekblad has posted six points (3-3-6) over Florida’s eight games, and has posted 16 points (3-13-16) over 24 career games vs. DET.
  • Patric Hornqvist enters tonight’s game with eight points (5-3-8) over Florida’s eight games. The 34-year-old native of Sollentuna, Sweden leads FLA with three power-play goals.
  • Radko Gudas totaled 19 hits over each of Florida’s last two games, notching 10 hits on Feb. 4 vs. NSH. His 10-hit performance was the fourth of his career. Since the NHL began tracking hits officially in 2005-06, Gudas is the third Panthers player and the first defenseman in that span to register 10 hits joining Derek MacKenzie March 19, 2015 vs. DET and Jack Skille Feb. 10, 2011 vs. BUF.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
– Feb. 5: F Aleksi Heponiemi loaned to Syracuse (AHL), F Owen Tippett recalled from FLA Taxi Squad

– Feb. 3: F Owen Tippett assigned to FLA Taxi Squad

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.
  • FLA defenseman Kevin Connauton and DET defenseman Danny Dekeyser both attended Western Michigan University.
  • DET forward Tyler Bertuzzi’s uncle Todd Bertuzzi played seven games for FLA (2006-07), posting seven points (1-6-7).
  • Assistant Coach Ulf Samuelsson played four regular season games and nine playoff games for DET (1998-99), recording three assists in the playoffs.
  • Video Coach Andrew Brewer served as video coach for DET for the 2014-15 season.


CHASING FRANCHISE HISTORY

Franchise GoalsFranchise AssistsFranchise Points
1. Olli Jokinen (188)1. Jonathan Huberdeau (297)1. Jonathan Huberdeau (449)
2. Aleksander Barkov (159)2. Aleksander Barkov (259)2. Olli Jokinen (419)
3. Scott Mellanby (157)3. Stephen Weiss (249)3. Aleksander Barkov (418)
T-4. Jonathan Huberdeau (152)4. Olli Jokinen (231)4. Stephen Weiss (394)
T-4. Pavel Bure (152)5. Robert Svehla (229)5. Scott Mellanby (354)


PANTHERS LEADERS

Games Played: 14 Players (8)

Goals: Verhaeghe (6)

Assists: Huberdeau (8)

Points: Huberdeau (12)

Power-Play Goals: Hornqvist (3)

Power-Play Points: Huberdeau (7)

Shorthanded Goals: 

Shorthanded Points: 

Shots: Barkov (33)

PIM: Yandle (12)
+/-: Verhaeghe (+6)

Faceoff Win % (Min. 100 faceoffs): Barkov (59.3)

Blocked Shots: Acciari (14)

Hits: Gudas (41)

TOI/GP: Ekblad (25:29)

PP TOI/GP: Yandle (3:32)

SH TOI/GP: Acciari (3:24)

Wins: Bobrovsky/Driedger (3)

Shutouts: 

ACTIVE STREAKS

Goal Streak        Barkov (2 Games, 2 Goals)

Assist Streak      Barkov (4 Games, 4 Assists)

Point Streak       Barkov (4 Games, 3-4-7)


APPROACHING MILESTONES

Juho Lammikko…1st NHL Goal
Brett Connolly…2 Goals Away…100th NHL Goal
Jonathan Huberdeau…3 Assists Away…300th NHL Assist
Radko Gudas
…5 Assists Away…100th NHL Assist

RECENT MILESTONES
Aleksi Heponiemi
…1st NHL Game/1st NHL Goal…Jan. 30 at DET
Brett Connolly
…500th NHL game…Jan. 28 at CBJ

TONIGHT AT BB&T CENTER

  • Tonight, 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:  Isaac Spragg


Tonight’s Hero Among Us is Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Spragg. Isaac served in the US Air Force for 14 years and US Army for 18 years before retiring from the military. Among his deployment locations were Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey.

  • BB&T (Now Truist) Territory Teammate: James Bulger

GREAT MOMENTS IN PANTHERS HISTORY

Feb. 7, 2004Roberto Luongo represented the Panthers at the 2004 NHL All-Star Game in St. Paul, MN. Luongo won the goaltending portion of the 2004 Super Skills Competition, stopping 11 of 12 shots he faced.