Detroit Red Wings vs. Florida Panthers Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/21/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL

Where to watch: HULU, ESPN+

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Red Wings: 30-37-10

Panthers: 55-15-6

Oh, no. We have to do this again? We just endured a whooping at the hands of the Florida Panthers against the Detroit Red Wings less than a week ago. Now we have to run the poor Red Wings through the gauntlet again as if we don’t think they’ve suffered enough?

But perhaps there is life yet for the Red Wings, who channeled that annihilation at the hands of the Panthers on Sunday into what might be their most character-driven victory of the season Tuesday with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Now, I get it, the Lightning aren’t really good right now and they’re likely just coasting to the playoffs where a matchup with either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Carolina Hurricanes await them in the first round. But there is still a wide discrepancy between the teams and if the Red Wings are cashing as at least +400 underdogs, you know someone was drunk enough to take the chance on that number.

Jakub Vrana scored twice, including the game-winner five minutes into the third period, for the Red Wings’ fifth win in 10 games. Which that, even of itself, is a miracle to think considering the Red Wings were losing somewhere along the lines fo 15 of 17 at one point a few weeks ago.

"He played as complete a hockey game as he's played all year for us," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "I thought he was excellent in every facet of the game. He checked great, he worked hard, he won battles, he was good on the wall.”

The fact the Red Wings were able to go into Tampa and produce one hell of a unique offensive game is probably the most surprising thing out of all of this. It might not happen again all season and if not, I think the Red Wings will be content with such things.

Because it’s definitely not happening against the Panthers. I don’t care if they just met a few days ago. The Panthers are not going to change a whole lot, and why should they? The best team in the Eastern Conference has won 11 straight after a 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

And of course it would be Sasha Barkov completing his third NHL hat trick to get the win and inch closer to a Presidents Trophy if the Colorado Avalanche falter down the stretch, which helps after they lost. Florida is tied with Colorado for the top spot in the league.

"We don't really talk about that," Barkov said. "The main thing for us is to get ready for the playoffs. We're tied with Colorado for first place in the league, it means we've done something right."

Barkov has a career-high 37 goals, and while the former Selke Trophy winner is likely the best player on his own team, he’ll probably take a step back to Jonathan Huberdeau possibly winning the Art Ross Trophy, but it still needs to be acknowledged.

"He's had a great season," Florida coach Andrew Brunette said. "Kind of quietly. I think other guys have had career years and 'Huby's' season he's having is off the charts. He kind of maybe got lost a little bit in the shuffle because he missed so much time. But he reminds you on nights like tonight how great of a player he is. He's had a tremendous season. And if he was healthy, probably right up there with 'Huby' in that scoring race."

Applaud the Red Wings. Please do. Enjoy what in the world they did the other night. If they beat the Panthers, they’re going to win the Stanley Cup in NHL 22 next season. Florida cruises to another win. Panthers win 5-2 

Red Wings are 14-9 this season following a division game.

Panthers are 16-4 following a game against a division opponent this season.

Panthers are 48-30 the past three seasons following a two-game unbeaten streak.

Red Wings:

Tyler Bertuzzi -- Dylan Larkin -- Lucas Raymond

Filip Zadina -- Pius Suter -- Jakub Vrana

Adam Erne -- Michael Rasmussen -- Sam Gagner

Joe Veleno -- Chase Pearson -- Mitchell Stephens

Danny DeKeyser -- Moritz Seider

Marc Staal -- Filip Hronek

Gustav Lindstrom -- Jake Walman

Alex Nedeljkovic

Panthers:

Carter Verhaeghe -- Aleksander Barkov -- Anthony Duclair

Jonathan Huberdeau -- Sam Bennett -- Claude Giroux

Mason Marchment -- Anton Lundell -- Sam Reinhart

Maxim Mamin -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Patric Hornqvist

Ben Chiarot -- MacKenzie Weegar

Gustav Forsling -- Brandon Montour

Robert Hagg -- Radko Gudas

Sergei Bobrovsky

Points: Jonathan Huberdeau -- 111

Goals: Sasha Barkov -- 37

Assists: Jonathan Huberdeau -- 81

Goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky -- 37-6-3, 2.65 GAA, .912 SV%

Points: Dylan Larkin -- 69

Goals: Dylan Larkin -- 31

Assists: Moritz Seider -- 42

Goalie: Alex Nedeljkovic -- 19-22-9, 3.33 GAA, .901 SV%