October 15, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) checks on Detroit Red Wings defender Moritz Seider (53) during the third period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Image If the Detroit Red Wings maintain their playoff position, they won’t be able to afford more losses or more injuries to a team that is far behind them in the Eastern Conference standings like the Florida Panthers.
The Red Wings, looking to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two months, may get some revenge on the struggling Panthers on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Florida.
Detroit, seeking a top-three finish in the Atlantic Division, or at least a wild-card spot, is 5-5-3 since its last straight win over a three-game stretch from Jan. 16-21. The Red Wings have a chance to break that streak after a 3-0 win over New Jersey on Sunday.
Moritz Seider had a goal with two assists, James van Riemsdyk had one assist each, Patrick Kane had two helpers and John Gibson and Cam Talbot made 31 saves against the Devils.
“We can all handle pressure situations. We don’t want to sit still,” Seider said. “We want to play with our toes.”
Gibson has stopped 77 of 81 shots in his last four starts, but was forced out on Sunday due to a crease collision and his status remains uncertain. The Red Wings already have minus forward Dylan Larkin, who is day-to-day with a leg injury.
Talbot, meanwhile, stopped 28 of 29 shots in two away games this month.
Prior to Sunday’s win, Detroit lost 3-1 at home to Florida on Friday. Alex DeBrincat managed the Red Wings’ only goal and Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk recorded his sixth career hat trick.
The win snapped Florida’s four-game losing streak to 3-9-0 since winning three straight games from Jan. 22-25. The Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who have dealt with a series of injuries to key players this season, have 65 points and are 11 points out of the final wild-card spot in the East on Monday.
“This is a weird year,” said Tkachuk, who has eight goals and nine assists in 16 games since making his season debut on Jan. 19.
“We’re not going to make any excuses, but we all know that one of the biggest reasons we’re where we are right now is because we lost all the men’s games. I promise we’ll be back. Hopefully next year.”
The Panthers appear to want veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to be part of their plans for 2026-27. Florida did not trade him before last week’s deadline and is reportedly interested in re-signing the 37-year-old pending free agent, who had 28 saves against Detroit on Friday.
“There’s no other goalie we’d rather play against. He’s the backbone,” Tkachuk said of Bobrovsky. He has a 3.08 goals-against average and a career-low save percentage of .876.
“He’s the biggest reason we have two Stanley Cup rings.”
Florida backup Daniil Tarasov has allowed 15 goals during a four-game losing streak.
Seder went scoreless last week against Florida but has a total of seven points in Detroit’s last seven games.
–Field level media
