The Detroit Red Wings have a very unique opportunity on the horizon. Of the 10 games remaining on their schedule, three feature the same opponent. The Philadelphia Flyers, who are also on the hunt for a playoff spot, are ready and eager to make their presence known. At this point in the season, they're simultaneously pushing for the playoffs while also trying to establish an identity of their own. The Red Wings, on the other hand, are fighting for their lives to secure a playoff spot.
These two teams are in fairly similar situations. Neither have made the playoffs in some time. Both have undertaken rebuilds (albeit, the Red Wings moreso than the Flyers). Both have a crop of young, promising stars and prospects. This, by all accounts, should be the perfect test for the Red Wings to see if they're truly ready for the playoffs.
This is as close to a mini-playoff series as it gets.
Quick facts about the Philadelphia Flyers
1. Flyers are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games
They've managed to scrape away wins against teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, but struggled against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
2. Flyers scoring at a high clip
Over their last 10 games, the Flyers have put up 29 goals, good for 14th in the NHL. The Red Wings, by comparison, have put up just 25 -- good for 20th in the league.
3. Philadelphia sports above-average goaltending
The Flyers have a .910 save percentage over their last 10 games. Dan Vladar has a 2.32 goals-against average in his last 10, while Sam Ersson has a 2.74 GAA.
How the Flyers stack against the Red Wings
Flyers | Point totals | Red Wings | Point totals |
|---|---|---|---|
Travis Konecny | 66 points (25G, 35A) | Alex DeBrincat | 77 points (36G, 41A) |
Trevor Zegras | 57 points (22G, 35A) | Lucas Raymond | 70 points (23G, 47A) |
Owen Tippett | 44 points (24G, 20A) | Dylan Larkin | 57 points (29G, 28A) |
Christian Dvorak | 44 points (19G, 29A) | Moritz Seider | 51 points (9G, 42A) |
The Flyers score at a lower clip than the Red Wings, sporting a -6 goal differential to Detroit's -1. Where they have an advantage, however, is something completely out of Detroit's control: divisional seeding. The Flyers are simultaneously five points out of a playoff spot and five points out of the third place spot in the Metropolitan Division. They've got a much larger margin of error than the Red Wings. This means they can afford to play a little looser.
If, by the end of the season, the Flyers have secured a playoff spot, they can relax a little. If they're still fighting, they'll play with nothing to lose. Either way, the Red Wings cannot afford to get passive. Travis Konecny has 15 career points in 21 games against the Red Wings. The Flyers rely heavily on their team leader in points. Trevor Zegras is having one of the better seasons of his career, sporting 57 points in 71 games. The Red Wings need to focus on shutting down both of these players if they hope to come out with a win.
Red Wings need to outsmart, outmuscle Flyers
In order to ensure a victory against the Flyers, the Red Wings cannot afford to play passive. The Flyers feast on players that go on autopilot. The moment a team lets its foot off the gas, they're there to scoop up the puck and put the game away. Players like Rasmus Ristolainen, who was nearly a Detroit Red Wing, use their physicality to overpower the opposition.
The best way the Red Wings can win is by outmuscling the Flyers while keeping their foot on the gas. By now, the team should know too well what happens if they play passively.