Simon Edvinsson will be more confident in 2nd NHL game

Detroit Red Wings rookie defenseman Simon Edvinsson officially got his feet wet at the National Hockey League level on Saturday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena, immediately making his presence known with a big hit on sniper Nathan MacKinnon and showing that he has all of the tools to become an effective player at hockey's highest level.

He'll once again be in Detroit's lineup tonight as they welcome in the Atlantic Division rival Florida Panthers, and Edvinsson admits that there won't be as many nerves for his second NHL game as there was for his very first baptism by fire. 

"I am not going to be as nervous as I was last game," Edvinsson said. "But it is going to be fun to have them here, to watch the game. But last game was special, I am always going to remember that, and I think my parents will always remember this one."

Head coach Derek Lalonde liked what he saw from the towering Swede on Saturday. 

"We are playing him tonight and we're excited about it," Lalonde said. "He did some good things the other day and there's going to be some growth every minute he gets in this league."

The Red Wings take on the Panthers tonight starting at 7:00 PM EST.