The BB&T Center plays host to an intriguing clash as the Florida Panthers take on the visiting Detroit Red Wings. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. Fox Sports Detroit will broadcast this Atlantic Division matchup, and the puck drops at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 10.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Florida Panthers Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
The Panthers are 29-39 straight up (SU) and have punished moneyline bettors to the tune of -16.7 units so far. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 44-38 record that the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 68 regular season outings, 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just seven have pushed. The team’s 17-18 SU at home this season.
Florida currently touts the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has scored on 26.7 percent of their extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
Florida, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over its past five outings total, and 3.6 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 24.7 saves per game with a .897 save percentage, Roberto Luongo (15-22-5) has been the principal option in goal for the Panthers this year. If head coach Bob Boughner chooses to give him the night off, however, the Panthers could roll with James Reimer (14-21-21 record, .902 save percentage, 3.02 goals against average).
The Panthers will continue to rely on offensive production from Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. Barkov (75 points) is up to 29 goals and 46 assists and has recorded multiple points on 20 different occasions this year. Huberdeau has 21 goals and 51 assists to his name and has notched a point in 38 games.
On the other side of the rink, Detroit is 24-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 33 of its outings have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just two have pushed. Detroit’s 11-22 SU as the visiting team this season.
Detroit has converted on just 16.7 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s skaters have been penalized 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard (27.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Detroit. Howard has 18 wins, 27 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .909 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Red Wings will be Dylan Larkin, who’s got 27 goals and 35 assists this year.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Florida Panthers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Two of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-6 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- Over Detroit’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 0-4 in those games).
- The Panthers this season have tallied the 11th-most hits per game in the NHL (23.0), but the club has averaged 27.2 over their last five home outings.
