SUNRISE - The Florida Panthers, two-time Stanley Cup finalists who dominated the Atlantic Division for years, have yet to beat a divisional opponent this season, dropping to 0-3 in conference play after a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Florida Hockey Now reported.
The defeat highlighted a broader shift in the Atlantic Division, where all eight teams now carry a winning percentage above .500 - compared to only three of eight in the Pacific Division. Coach Paul Maurice acknowledged the challenge after Monday’s loss. “We’re going to get everybody’s best,” Maurice said. “All the teams in the Atlantic are good teams. When you get their best you have to match it. I think that was a really strong game by Detroit. I wasn’t in love with ours.”
The Panthers’ struggles against Detroit mark a sharp reversal from recent history. From 2019-20 through last season, Florida went 23-5-1 against the Red Wings. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was 16-3-1 against Detroit during that stretch - before departing for Toronto, where he now plays alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Kirill Marchenko and top draft pick Gavin McKenna.
The Atlantic has grown more competitive across the board. Buffalo made the playoffs last season after a 14-year drought. Ottawa reached the postseason the past two seasons following seven straight non-playoff years. Montreal made the postseason the past two years after a three-year absence, winning two rounds before falling to the eventual Cup-winning Hurricanes in the conference finals. The Boston Bruins, Florida’s next Atlantic opponent Sunday, currently lead the division with 23 points.
“We know it’s going to be tough,” forward Sam Bennett said. “We know we need to be better against divisional teams and that’s obviously going to be a focus for us. We’ll be aware of that for sure.”
Before Sunday’s trip to Boston, the Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, broadcast on TNT and truTV. Chicago has missed the playoffs the last six seasons and has lost six of its last seven games, but features Connor Bedard, a resurgent Patrick Kane and former Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight. Florida leads the season series 1-0 after a 3-2 win in Chicago and won last season’s matchup 2-0. The Panthers’ next road game follows Saturday at Washington, with a 12:30 p.m. faceoff.