The Panthers just confirmed that Akira Schmid will start in net tonight against the Red Wings, per coach Paul Maurice.
UPDATE (3:00 PM ET): RotoWire's confirmed-starters list adds some recent form for both goalies. John Gibson, who starts for Detroit, is 1-3-0 over his last five games with a 3.53 GAA and an .857 save percentage.
Schmid is 3-2-0 over his last five for Florida, with a 2.81 GAA and an .893 save percentage. RotoWire also notes that Detroit won the last meeting between the teams on Nov. 2, 5-3 in Florida.
UPDATE (2:35 PM ET): RotoWire reports that John Gibson will start in net for the Red Wings tonight against Florida, which answers the question of Detroit's starter that was still open when we published.
The Panthers also gave the broadcast details: puck drop is 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will stream on ESPN+/Hulu.
Jacob Markstrom played Tuesday in Columbus, a 4-1 Florida win, so this is a rotation at home. Markstrom has 10 appearances this season, Schmid has 9.
The team's own post gives the word straight from Maurice.
Schmid is 26, was a fifth-round pick of the Devils in 2018 and has 91 career NHL games. He also got the crease on the homestand opener against Winnipeg, when Paul Maurice turned to Akira Schmid against the Jets.
The name was no surprise to everyone. George Richards had it earlier this morning.
There is another lineup note tonight. Sandis Vilmanis is back in the lineup, which we covered in detail when Maurice made his decision on Vilmanis.
Florida sits at 10-7-2, fifth in the Atlantic, and it won its last time out. The Panthers are 4-2-0 at home.
Does Schmid starting change the Panthers' goalie picture?
Not really. Markstrom is 36 and has carried the heavier workload, and giving him a night after Tuesday on a team still fighting for position in the Atlantic is the sensible play. Nobody should read it as a demotion.
We like the call. Schmid has been used regularly enough this season that this isn't a cold start, and a goal differential of +4 doesn't leave Florida much room to burn points on tired legs.
Detroit's starter hasn't been confirmed. The Red Wings arrive in Sunrise at 7-9-3 and the game is tonight.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Is Akira Schmid the right goalie for the Panthers tonight against Detroit?
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