Panthers, Red Wings Meet in Detroit With Playoff Implications DETROIT (Interstat) — The Detroit Red Wings will look to solidify their playoff positioning when they host the struggling Florida Panthers at Little Caesars Arena on Friday night. The Red Wings (35-27-0) enter the contest holding a more secure spot in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Panthers (30-31-0) are in need of points to keep their postseason hopes alive. A statistical projection from National Statistical forecasts a 3-2 victory for Detroit. Florida arrives mired in a slump, having lost four of its last five games, including a 5-1 defeat in New Jersey on Tuesday. Center Anton Lundell provided the lone goal in that loss and has been a bright spot, registering a goal and three shots on net. He will be a key player to watch as the Panthers seek to jumpstart their offense. Detroit is coming off a hard-fought 4-3 overtime loss to Vegas on Wednesday. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was a force in that game, contributing a goal, an assist, three shots, and four hits. The young blueliner has points in consecutive contests and brings a rising physical presence to the Red Wings’ back end. History favors the home team in this matchup. The Red Wings dominated the previous meeting this season, a 4-1 victory in Detroit on Oct. 15, 2025. The game begins a critical home-and-home set between the clubs, who will face off again in Florida next Tuesday. For the Panthers, this two-game stretch represents a direct opportunity to close the gap. For the Red Wings, it’s a chance to create further separation and build momentum before embarking on a three-game road trip starting Sunday in New Jersey. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Little Caesars Arena.