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Red Wings vs. Panthers, one last time: Live updates
TL;DR
The Detroit Red Wings face the Florida Panthers tonight at 7 p.m., concluding a disappointing season where they recorded only 69 points in 53 games, marking them as only the second NHL team to miss the playoffs with such a score. The last team to do so was the Montreal Canadiens in 1969-70.
Follow along, one last time, as the Detroit Red Wings end one of the most disappointing seasons in the team's 100-year history tonight against the Florida Panthers in Florida at 7 p.m.
To put this latest collapse in perspective, Detroit is only the second NHL team to record 69 points in the first 53 games and not make the playoffs.
The other team was the Montreal Canadiens in 1969-70. They also had 69 points after 53 games and finished fifth and out of the playoffs in the Original Six days.
Montreal though bounced back and won the Cup in 1971 behind the goaltending of Ken Dryden.
To put Montreal's collapse in 1970 in perspective, U.S. President Richard Nixon was just a year into his presidency and Neil Armstrong had just become the first man to walk on the moon less than a year earlier.
How to watch Red Wings vs. Panthers
▶ Faceoff: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Fla.
▶ TV/radio: FDSN/97.1
▶ Outlook: The Wings (41-30-10, 92 points) close out the season against Florida (39-38-4, 82 points). ... The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers have been decimated with injuries this season. ... The Panthers have won two of three games against the Wings this season. ... LW Matthew Tkachuk (32 points in 30 games) has been effective since returning to the lineup.
Mar 6, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (36) makes a save in the first period against the Florida Panthers at Little Caesars Arena.
Some Red Wings heading to playoffs
Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka and forwards Carter Mazur, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Dominik Shine will return for Grand Rapids and take part in the Griffins' run toward an AHL championship.
Coach Todd McLellan feels the experience can be extremely beneficial.
"We talked about Dominik Shine (the Griffins' captain) and the role he plays down there, how he drags everyone into the game, and I know he'll do that," McLellan said. "We spoke to him about it already and he's very hungry to go down there and lead.
"Then for the other players, this is a beginning, not an end. Everybody else has an ending (of the season) and this is a beginning for them. They can learn some valuable lesson in the playoffs and understand what it's like to play against the same team and in some cases seven games in a row, in hostile environments, playing through injuries. Being counted on is the big thing, so they can gain a lot."
The AHL playoffs will begin the last week of April.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Red Wings play Florida Panthers in final NHL game
Q&A
What was the Detroit Red Wings' points total after 53 games this season?
The Detroit Red Wings recorded 69 points after 53 games this season.
Which NHL team last missed the playoffs with 69 points after 53 games?
The last NHL team to miss the playoffs with 69 points after 53 games was the Montreal Canadiens in the 1969-70 season.
What significant historical events occurred around the Montreal Canadiens' 1970 collapse?
During the Montreal Canadiens' 1970 collapse, Richard Nixon was a year into his presidency, and Neil Armstrong had recently become the first man to walk on the moon.
