The BB&T Center is playing host to a divisional showdown as the Detroit Red Wings visit Florida to face the Panthers. The action gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 20, and you are able to watch the game live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers Odds
Florida is 1-4 straight up (SU) and has recorded -5.5 units for moneyline bettors thus 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 five regular season outings, two of the team’s games have gone over the total, while another two have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 0-2 SU at home so far this year.
The Panthers have successfully found the net on 13.6 percent of their power play opportunities in 2018-19. That’s a big drop-off from last season, when they were ranked 21st in the league by scoring on 18.9 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 80.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 15th overall last season) to 73.3 percent this year.
The Panthers, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.6 times per game this season. Last year, they posted the figure in the league with 4.1 penalties per game. After serving an average of 11.0 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for just 8.8 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 21.3 saves per game with a .867 save percentage, James Reimer (1-3-1) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Panthers this season. Reimer did just play last night, however, so head coach Bob Boughner could choose to give him the night off and go with Michael Hutchinson instead (1-1-1 record, .838 save percentage, 3.73 goals against average).
The Panthers will continue seeking offensive production via Vincent Trocheck and Evgenii Dadonov. Trocheck (seven points) has tallied two goals and five assists while Dadonov has three goals and three assists to his credit so far in the season’s early stages.
On the other hand, Detroit is 0-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through seven regular season matches, four of its games have gone over the total, while three have gone under the total and none have pushed. The Red Wings are 0-5 SU as an away team this season.
The Wings have scored on 22.7 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 17.5 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a mark that was ranked just 23rd in league-wide). The team’s gone from successfully defending 77.6 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 23rd overall last season) to 82.1 percent this year.
Detroit’s players have been called for penalties 5.6 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed noticeably from the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a noteworthy 14.1 minutes per outing this year.
The winless Jimmy Howard (26.8 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard has zero wins, five losses, and two OT losses to his credit, while registering a .893 save percentage and 3.57 goals against average this year.
Dylan Larkin (three goals, two assists) and Tyler Bertuzzi (two goals, three assists) are the top offensive options for Detroit and will lead the attack for the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
Florida has yet to play in a game this season that has been decided by two or more goals.
Detroit has allowed 4.7 goals per game (while scoring just 2.1 goals per contest) over its seven-game losing skid.
The Panthers are 0-1 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Red Wings are 0-4 SU when they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
The over has hit in three of Detroit’s last five games.
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