DETROIT -- The Panthers defense has been much improved over the past few weeks, and it will be put to the test Friday against the defending Western Conference champion Red Wings.

And Scott Clemmensen, Florida's most vocal defensive critic to date this season, will find out firsthand how much better things have gotten.

Clemmensen, who gave up seven goals against Washington on Nov. 7 and said playing behind the Panthers defense was ``kind of survival'' afterward, will start in place of Tomas Vokoun.

``We didn't want to play Vokoun back-to-back in less than 24 hours with the travel,'' said coach Pete DeBoer, noting the Panthers visit the New York Rangers on Saturday. ``Those [Eastern Conference] games are four-point games. I think that factored into it as well.''

DeBoer said he and Clemmensen met the day after the goalie's critical comments became public and that ``we have a clear understanding of where we're at.''

Clemmensen has struggled in adjusting to the Panthers' defensive style, one decidedly less stringent than what he has been used to. Clemmensen played in 40 games for the New Jersey Devils last season, a team known for its stingy play.

Vokoun has seen fewer shots of late, and his teammates were all over the ice Wednesday in Buffalo. In Florida's 6-2 win, Vokoun faced only 28 shots and the Panthers blocked a season-high 21 shots. The Panthers came into the season with a totally revamped list of defensemen, with only Bryan McCabe and Keith Ballard returning from last season's group.

``Those six guys have to be our backbone,'' DeBoer said. ``They have to be a stabilizing force every night. It took us [a few games] to get a grasp on what their responsibilities are.''

Bryan Allen was on the roster last season but played in only two games because of a knee injury. McCabe and Ballard were both in their first seasons with the Panthers last year.

``You win in this league by playing good defense,'' Vokoun said. ``Our defense in the first 10 games wasn't very good. If we want to go anywhere, we have to start there. Defense isn't just on the defensemen or the goalie. . . . I think we started to realize what we had to do to win games.''

NOT MY GOAL

Michael Frolik was honest when he said he didn't feel the puck hit his stick on Florida's fourth goal on Wednesday, and the NHL agreed. Frolik, who had been credited with two goals in the Buffalo win, saw one disappear as it was ruled a Buffalo player deflected McCabe's shot into the net. McCabe will now be credited with his second goal of the season.

``It was a good game, a perfect win,'' said Frolik, who has two goals in his past three games. ``I knew someone tipped it, but I didn't feel anything. I'm sure they watched the video.

``It doesn't matter to me. It was in. Someone scored it. Good win.''

• The Panthers announced Thursday they will play a preseason game against the Boston Bruins in Rochester, N.Y., next year.

The game is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2010. Florida's AHL affiliate is based in Rochester.