NHL: Red Wings seek rare back-to-back wins while Panthers discuss next year

If the Detroit Red Wings want to stay in playoff contention, they can’t afford more losses to teams lower in the Eastern Conference standings—like the Florida Panthers—or suffer more injuries.

Looking to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two months, the Red Wings will try to exact some revenge against the Panthers on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla.

Detroit is aiming for a top-three finish in the Atlantic Division or at least a wild-card spot. Since their last back-to-back wins during a three-game stretch from Jan. 16-21, the Red Wings have gone 5-5-3. Sunday's 3-0 victory over New Jersey gives them a chance to break that streak.

Defenseman Moritz Seider had a goal and two assists, James van Riemsdyk added a goal and an assist, Patrick Kane recorded two helpers, and goaltenders John Gibson and Cam Talbot combined for 31 saves against the Devils.

“We all can handle pressure situations; we don’t want to sit back,” Seider said. “We want to play on our toes.”

Gibson has stopped 77 of 81 shots in his last four starts, but he left Sunday’s game after a crease collision, and his status is uncertain. The Red Wings are also without forward Dylan Larkin, who is day-to-day with a leg injury.

Talbot, meanwhile, has stopped 28 of 29 shots in two road appearances this month.

Detroit lost 3-1 to Florida at home on Friday before Sunday's win. Alex DeBrincat scored Detroit’s lone goal, while Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk recorded his sixth career hat trick.

The victory snapped a four-game skid for Florida, which is 3-9-0 since last winning consecutive games from Jan. 22-25. Sitting on 65 points, the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers have struggled with injuries to key players and entered Monday’s play 11 points out of the final wild-card spot in the East.

“This is a weird year,” Tkachuk said, 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 one of the biggest reasons we’re where we are is all the man games lost. I promise we’ll be back. Hopefully next year.”

The Panthers appear to want veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to remain part of their plans for 2026-27. Florida did not trade him before last week’s deadline and reportedly is interested in re-signing the 37-year-old pending free agent, who made 28 saves Friday against Detroit.

“There’s no other goalie we want to play in front of. He’s the backbone,” Tkachuk said of Bobrovsky, who has a career-low .876 save percentage with a 3.08 goals-against average. “He’s the biggest reason why we have two Stanley Cup rings.”

Florida backup Daniil Tarasov has allowed 15 goals during a four-start losing streak.

Seider, who was held without a point versus Florida last week, has totaled seven points in Detroit’s last seven games.

—Field Level Media/Reuters