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- What: Detroit Red Wings vs. Florida Panthers
- Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
- Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: BSDET, BSFL, NHLPP/ESPN+
An important Atlantic Division matchup takes place tonight at Amerant Bank Arena when the Detroit Red Wings play a road game against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are currently in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 27-13-3 record. Meanwhile, the Red Wings are the No. 4 team in the division at 22-16-5. Florida, the Eastern Conference representatives in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, are in the mix to make the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, while Detroit, who have not made the postseason since 2016, are the top team in the Eastern Conference Wild Card hunt, and one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Eastern Conference.
The Florida Panthers fell short of lifting the Cup last season, falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, but they downed the record-setting Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs before beating Toronto and Carolina to earn their spot in the Cup finals. Florida finished the 2023 season with a 42-32-8 record. Florida is 13-6-1 at home in 224.
The Detroit Red Wings finished last year with a 35-37-10. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman picked up Shayne Gostisbehere, Alex DeBrincat, and Daniel Sprong in the hopes of helping the team improve on that record. Detroit has an 11-9-1 road record.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for tonight’s NHL matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers, check out our betting picks to win the 2024 Stanley Cup and our tips for betting on the NHL.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Florida Panthers betting picks – January 17, 2024
 | Puck Line | Money Line | Total |
| Detroit Red Wings | +1.5 (-130) | +185 | Ov 6.5 (-117) |
| Florida Panthers | -1.5 (+110) | -225 | Un 6.5 (-103) |
Detroit Red Wings betting breakdown
No team in the Eastern Conference has scored more goals during the 2024 NHL season than the Detroit Red Wings. The team has 155 goals this year. However, the team’s 144 goals allowed give the club a less-than-stellar plus-11 goal differential. Only four Eastern Conference clubs have allowed more goals than the Wings. If the club hopes to make the playoffs in 2024, the defense and goaltending needs to improve during the second half of the 2024 NHL campaign.
Detroit is getting offense from a number of players this year, with eight members of the roster having more than 20 points. Alex DeBrincat, who joined the Red Wings via trade with the Ottawa Senators in July, leads the team in points (40), goals (17) and assists (23). DeBrincat is on pace to have one of the most productive seasons of his career, which began with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017-18. Dylan Larkin is second on the team in points with 38.
With starting goaltender Ville Husso out of the lineup since mid-December with a lower-body injury, the Red Wings have relied on Alex Lyon in net. The 31-year-old started seven straight games before getting Sunday off. Lyon has a 9-4-1 record, a 2.58 goals against average, and a .922 save percentage.
The Red Wings are 14th in the NHL on the power play and connecting at a 21.4 percent clip with the extra man. As for the penalty kill, Detroit is 13th with an 80.6 percent effectiveness. Detroit’s 3.56 goals scored per game is fourth-highest in the NHL, but the team’s 3.35 goals allowed on 32.6 shots per game is the eighth-highest average in the league.
Florida Panthers beating breakdown
The Florida Panthers struggled a bit at the start of the 2024 NHL season, but the team found its groove in early November, and they have been consistent since then. The club has not lost more than two games in a row all season, but they are in danger of dropping three straight if they fall to the Red Wings tonight at home. Florida enters tonight’s matchup with home losses to the New Jersey Devils (4-1) and Anaheim Ducks (5-4 OT) in their past two outings.
Sam Reinhart is tops on the Panthers in scoring with 55 points and 32 goals. The team’s second-leading scorer is Aleksander Barkov with 46 points. Barkov leads the club with 35 assists. Barkov is listed as day-to-day with a minor lower-body injury, but the team believes he will play against the Red Wings. Matthew Tkachuk‘s scoring is down this season. Following back-to-back seasons of more than 40 goals and 100 points, the Panthers’ emotional leader is currently on pace to score 23 goals and 80 points on the 2024 season.
It’s no surprise that Sergei Bobrovsky is holding down the starting goaltending job for the team this year. The veteran netminder has a 21-10-1 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.45 goals against average.
Florida has scored an average of 3.16 goals per game this year, which ranks them 16th in the NHL. The club allows an average of 2.56 goals per game on 27 shots. There are only three teams in the league who allow fewer goals per game, and they are all in the Western Conference. The Panthers have the No. 13 power play (23.1 percent) and the fourth best penalty kill (84.8 percent).
Detroit Red Wings vs. Florida Panthers betting trends
The Florida Panthers own an 8-0 record against the Detroit Red Wings dating back to the 2021-22 NHL season. Florida has outscored Detroit 42-15 in those games. The clubs have played once this season, with the Panther beating the Red Wings 2-0 in Detroit in November.
The Panthers were on a nine-game winning streak before dropping back-to-back games on Saturday and Monday. Detroit is 5-0-1 since January 1.
Best bets for Detroit Red Wings vs. Florida Panthers
The Red Wings are playing well right now, but the team’s defense is suspect, and the Panthers are one of the most effective teams when it comes to putting the puck on net, averaging 34.1 shots per game, which is the highest average in the Eastern Conference. That does not bode well for the Red Wings. The betting pick is for the Florida Panthers to beat the Detroit Red Wings.
With how well the Panthers have played on offense and how strong Sergei Bobrovsky has been in net, the betting pick is for the Panthers to cover the Red Wings.
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