Updated @ 1:20 PM: Chris Dreidger will start opposite Thomas Greiss: The Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers kick off their second two-game series of the season this afternoon (3 PM EST on FSD/FS Florida/97.1 FM). The Wings enter the series with an 0-1-and-1 record versus the unbeaten Panthers.
Last night, I did my best to set up today’s morning skate-less matinee game, emphasizing that the Panthers’ lineup was subject to change; this morning, FloridaPanthers.com’s Jameson Olive offers a game preview…
Already their third meeting this season, the Panthers won back-to-back games in Detroit on Jan. 30 and 31, taking both contests by a score of 3-2. Overall, Florida has won each of its last eight games against the Red Wings, while also earning at least one point in each of its last 10 games.
Sitting in last place in the Central Division at 2-8-2, Detroit has dropped each of their last eight games, including a 3-1 loss across the state at Tampa Bay on Friday. During their losing streak, the Red Wings have been outscored 33-13 while scoring more than two goals in just one game.
“We controlled what we could control and we showed up,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin told reporters after the loss to the first-place Lightning. “That’s a heck of a hockey team over there.”
Let’s skip ahead to the goaltending match-up, which will probably involve CHris Driedger vs. the winless (0-6-and-2) Thomas Greiss…
As for the Panthers, it’s going to either be Sergei Bobrovsky or Chris Driedger between the pipes against the Red Wings. While both goaltenders boast 3-0-1 records, Driedger holds an advantage in both goals-against average (1.72) and save percentage (.942) over Bobrovsky.
In Friday’s win over the Predators, Driedger stopped 24 of 25 shots.
And I’m not sure whether Wings coach Jeff Blashill will speak to the media prior to the game, but Panthers coach Joel Quenneville will do just that today:
With no skate this morning, Quenneville will provide updates to the media at 1:15 p.m. ET. Stay tuned to @FlaPanthers and @JamesonCoop on Twitter for pre-game updates.
WDIV’s David Bartkowiak Jr. also filed his weekly Red Wings notebook article this morning, and Bartkowiak believes that the Wings will snap the 0-6-and-2 streak they carry into this game by the time the Wings-Panthers series is over:
Up next is another two-game series with Florida, starting with a 3 p.m. Sunday game. I think we’ll see the Red Wings win at least one of these. They played really well against the Panthers last week, suffering two close 3-2 losses, one in overtime. It’s time to win a game for no other reason than confidence.
Bartkowiak Jr. continues at some length…
Update: Regarding coach Quenneville’s pre-game presser:
Highlights from #FlaPanthers coach Joel Quenneville’s pregame presser:
-Chris Dreidger starts
-Mason Marchment in the lineup this afternoon vs. Red Wings after being called up from taxi squad— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) February 7, 2021
Chris Driedger is starting tonight, per Q.
He has a .942 save percentage in 4 starts this season.— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) February 7, 2021
