Florida Panthers vs. Detroit Red Wings – 12/1/2016 Free Pick & NHL Betting Prediction

Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Panthers vs Red Wings Odds

Looking for Florida Panthers vs Detroit Red Wings free hockey plays? NHL betting sees the Panthers taking on the Red Wings on Thursday December 1st at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.

(5-8-1) Florida Panthers vs. Detroit Red Wings (7-6-1)

Date: Thursday December 1st
Time: 8:00 PM (EST)
Venue: Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI.
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: OFF
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: OFF
NHL Betting Total: OFF
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Florida made a surprising move, firing head coach Gerard Gallant on Sunday night after a loss to Carolina. Gallant led the team to their first playoff berth since 2012 last season and was also nominated for the Jack Adams trophy. Apparently new GM, Tom Rowe, and Gallant did not see eye to eye and it will be Rowe who takes over the bench on the interim.

The team in Detroit is experiencing a down season this year, sitting in 7th of 8 in the Atlantic Division with a 10-10-2 record. They haven’t received the performance improvement from their many young talented players that many expected, and could be in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1989-90 season if that trend continues.

Florida

The Panthers made a shocking move in the firing of Gerard Gallant, even though many around the league saw it coming. Gallant led the Panthers to their first playoff berth since 2012 last season, and the team was above .500 at his time of departure this year, at a record of 11-10-1 and in the thick of the Atlantic standings.

The Jack Adams nominee from a year ago got a 66 point performance out of the 43-year old Jaromir Jagr, but the veteran has just 11 points through 22 games this year. Florida is missing young scorer, Jonathan Huberdeau, as well as towering, skilled pivot, Nick Bjustad. Considering the situation, it shouldn’t be long before Gallant is swarmed with offers to coach elsewhere.

The Panthers currently sit in 18th in goals per game at an average of 2.4 per contest, obviously missing the likes of young scorers in Huberdeau and Bjustad. Their powerplay is only producing at a clip of 15.4%, sitting 21st at the time of writing. Jonathan Marchessault came over from Tampa Bay in the off-season and has been one of the great stories in the league so far, leading the Panthers in scoring with 10 goals and 18 points.

The Panthers lead goaltending role lays in the hands of 37-year old veteran, Roberto Luongo, who is showing no signs of aging. He’s compiled an 8-6-1 record with a 2.11 GAA and a .929 SV% this season. He’s the steady hand behind the young squad in front of him, having fellow veteran, James Reimer, spelling him from time-to-time as his backup.

Detroit

Speaking of veterans, the 36-year old captain of the Red Wings leads his respective club in scoring through the first quarter of the season. Zetterberg has 15 points in his 23 games played- not the type of pace he produced during his prime alongside the jettisoned Pavol Datsyuk, but still a respectable total.

The young forwards were expected to take another leap forward this season in terms of their development and toward the proverbial “passing of the torch.” Gustav Nyquist sits at 14 points, just one behind fellow Swede and mentor, Zetterberg.

Dylan Larkin has a solid rookie season a year ago, registering 23 goals and 45 points with 221 shots on net in his average of 16:33 TOI. He’s scored a team-leading seven goals this year, but has just one assist for eight points and the Wings are certainly hoping this is just a minor slump and he will outpace his totals from a year ago.

Petr Mrazek was to be handed the starting reigns in net for the Wings this year, but a slow start and the spectacular play of Jimmy Howard has amounted to what is now essentially a time-share. Howard owns a 1.82 GAA and a .940 SV% in his 12 appearances, while Mrazek has a 2.91 and .905, respectively, in his 14 games.

NHL Hockey Handicapping Trends

• Both Florida and Detroit have goal differentials of minus-2 on the season
• The Red Wings are 6-6-1 at home

Free Florida Panthers vs Detroit Red Wings NHL Hockey Prediction

I’m not going to lie to you, this shouldn’t really be the most exciting game to watch. Neither team have scored at a great clip this season and both sit amongst the bottom in the Atlantic Division, although a win can propel either team into the middle of the pack.

4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Under 5.5

Two great goalies should face one another in what should be a tight-checking match and jostling for a boost in their division. Florida and Detroit are averaging 2.4 and 2.3 goals per game, respectively, and I don’t expect a huge spike on this Thursday nighter.

NHL Free Game 3 Score Prediction: Florida-1 Detroit-2

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