GORDIE HOWE HAT TRICK

The rare Gordie Howe Hat Trick didn’t earn him a regular spot in the Detroit Red Wings lineup, however. Smith returned to the Red Wings on Monday and is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday at Florida, the start of a tough four-game trip with games against the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. “Probably the mostly important thing is he’s got to manage the puck through the neutral zone,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. Florida is 10-2-0 in its past 12 against the Red Wings. More: Keys to Red Wings’ weekend response

Givani Smith did not know what a Gordie Howe Hat Trick was until he recorded one on Sunday, in his 27th NHL game. Smith scored a goal, registered an assist and picked up a fighting major, sparking the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-1 victory over Florida Panthers at BB&T Center, snapping their eight-game winless streak. Smith has been shuffled from the taxi squad to the Grand Rapids Griffins and back to the Red Wings over the past few weeks as the NHL club juggled its lineup due to COVID issues, injuries and ineffectiveness. That’s what we need out of him every time he’s in the lineup.”Smith brings several elements the Red Wings (3-8-2) need – size, toughness, strong forechecking and a net presence. “We just got to make sure we clog up the neutral zone and we get through the neutral zone ourselves, get pucks in behind, make (defensemen) turn and create turnovers and play in the O-zone.”More: Anthony Mantha a surprise healthy scratch

He also fought Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad, the third component of the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick.”Here’s the Smith goal:Smitty's 2nd period tally. Smith, just 22, was selected by Detroit in the 2nd round (46th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He played his first 21 NHL games with Detroit last year, scoring 2 goals and an assist. This season he already has 1 goal and 3 assists in six games with the Red Wings. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 24: Givani Smith #48 of the Detroit Red Wings fires a shot against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on January 24, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.

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.