Driedger gets third shutout as Panthers beat Lightning 4-0
Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots to record his third shutout of the season, Juho Lammikko scored a short-handed goal, and the Florida Panthers secured home-ice advantage for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular season finale for both clubs.
Red Wings hold off Panthers 2-1 after Brome’s 1st NHL goal
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT – Mathias Brome scored his first NHL goal late in the second period, and the Detroit Red Wings held on for a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Patrik Nemeth also scored his first goal of the season for the Red Wings, who won for only the second time in seven games. “I think we had a flat second period," Florida forward Frank Vatrano said. There was a moment of silence before the game after the death of Sergei Tchekmarev, a longtime team masseur for the Red Wings. Red Wings: Host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
Bobrovsky shines as Panthers edge Red Wings 2-1
It was a close game, but it didn’t feel like that.”Bobrovsky allowed an early goal but was able to stop the Red Wings the rest of the way. It was a good win for us.”AdFilip Zadina scored for the Red Wings. The Red Wings have lost nine of 10. “We had some chances on the power play, but we need to score.”Zadina put the Red Wings ahead 1-0 at the 3:31 mark of the first. The Red Wings visit the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
Florida Panthers off to 2nd-best start in franchise history
Florida’s 6-1-2 start through nine games is the second-best in franchise history, topped only by the 6-0-3 record to open the 1996-97 season. “We've been consistent in most games," Florida coach Joel Quenneville said. Starting poorly, however, has pretty much snuffed out some Panthers seasons before they even started. The five Florida teams that went to the playoffs — 1995-96, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2011-12 and 2015-16 — averaged 12 standings points through the season’s first nine games. There’s obviously a long way to go, but the Panthers finally have the start they wanted.
Givani Smith’s ‘Gordie Howe Hat Trick’ helps Red Wings beat Panthers, 4-1
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, left, and Detroit Red Wings right wing Givani Smith fight during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)SUNRISE, Fla. – Givani Smith had a goal and an assist as Detroit Red Wings won for the first time in nine games, beating the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Sunday. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) (2021 Getty Images)Greiss, who moved to 1-7-2, stopped a three-on-one Florida break with the Red Wings ahead 2-1 in the third period. Sam Gagner notched his first assist with the Red Wings on the goal. After getting into four games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, Marchment played left wing on the fourth line with right wing Noel Acciari and center Juho Lammikko. AdON THE MENDRed Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi was injured when Florida visited Detroit last week and is expected to miss a few more games.
Lightning Effect: Skilled NHL teams add grit to go for Cup
Rewind to 2019 and early 2020 and that description fits the Tampa Bay Lightning, who added some grit and toughness to their talented core and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Lightning effect was clear as soon as NHL free agency opened. “You need guys that are going to have a little bit of sandpaper. “We maybe have taken a little bit of a step back from the most skillful lineup we’ve ever had to more of a balance between the will and the skill," Poile said. We certainly have a little bit more physicality, a little bit more grit and I think it’s probably and hopefully a better mix than we had last year.”___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports