- WHO: Florida Panthers (10th/70GP 31-25-14 76P) vs Detroit Red Wings (38-19-11 87P)
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 7ish
- WHERE: BB&T Center –
MiamiFt. LauderdaleSunrise, FL - WHERE TO WATCH: Tickets, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Detroit, NHLN
- HOW TO LISTEN: WSBR 740; 97.1 FM/1270 AM (DET)
- ENEMY INTEL: Winging It In Motown, The Malik Report
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 4 of 4 (2-1-0)
- ALL-TIME VS DET: 9W-14L-5T 2OTL 1SOL 76GF 98GA
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Detroit
- EXPECTED STARTERS (as of 7:30 am): Ellis (probable) or Luongo (possible) vs Mrazek (firm)
- JAGRWATCH: Career vs DET: 35GP 10G 21A 31P 0GWG (Yeah, kinda shocked here)
- TWITTER TAGS: #FlaPanthers, #RedWings, #DETvsFLA
- ETC: The Red Wings deplaned at a typically heavily-congested Sunrise International Airport yesterday; Plantation Intercontinental Field was the primary arrival location before excessive fog descended in mid-afternoon. All-Everything F Pavel Datsyuk (lower body) reportedly did not travel with the team. C Darren Helm is expected to return. Former Cats F Stephen Weiss has 19 points (7G) in 42GP. Florida G Roberto Luongo is in the mix as starter but Panthers’ coaching staff would not commit on Wednesday. Rookie D Aaron Ekblad hasn’t recorded a point in 5 games. F Brandon Pirri has 7 goals and 41(!) SOG in his past 9 games.
*
Last game for the Cats: 3-2 regulation loss in Sunrise to Montreal Tuesday
Past five: 3-2-0 13GF 10GA (streak: 2L)
Last game for the Wings: 5-1 victory in Pittsburgh Sunday
Past five: 2-3-0 16GF 18GA (streak: 1W)
*
NHL Preview:
Eastern Wildcard Race on Thursday (WC standings / playoff chances), and it’s a big one:
- BOSTON (8th/70GP 36-23-11 83P) at OTTAWA (9th/69GP 34-24-11 79P), 7:30
- Idle: None, as race is effectively down to BOS and OTT while trailer Philadelphia (73P) has played at least two more games than those remaining in the hunt/
*
Panthers, SoFla Media & Loyal Opposition on the Tweets
*