Tonight is the second time the Detroit Red Wings face the Philadelphia Flyers over their final 10 games of the season. The first time around couldn't have gone worse for the Wings. The team was disengaged, sloppy and couldn't mount a comeback against the oft-inconsistent Flyers.
Now, with just eight games left, the Red Wings are in a three-way tie for a spot just two points shy of the Wild Card. In order to pull ahead of the competition, Dylan Larkin & co. will need to rely on these three factors to give Detroit an edge.
Sam Ersson starting for Flyers
Ersson, who currently plays backup for Dan Vladar, comes into Detroit with an inconsistent record over his last 10 games:
Ersson has 6-2-1 record, 2.72 GAA and .888 save percentage in his last 10 games https://t.co/d1kv7ZnqAK
April 2, 2026A goaltender with a .888 save percentage, despite his wins/loss record, indicates that he's beatable. The Red Wings will need to pepper him with shots in order to score, though. They can't play passively on the power play as they have over their last few games. In order to defeat the Flyers, they need to ensure passing lanes are airtight. Their schema needs to play to their strengths. Every single player has to play like their careers depend on it.
Huge playoff implications if Red Wings win
Detroit's playoff chances, per Moneypuck, increase by 11.6% if they win in regulation and 10.2% if they defeat Philadelphia in overtime. It goes without saying that, if they lose in either of these scenarios, their playoff chances go down. This as much a must-win game as any this season, but this one has among the largest implications moving forward.
If the Red Wings were to secure a playoff spot by the end of the season, their opponent in the first round would likely be the Buffalo Sabres. The Red Wings recently trounced the Sabres 5-3. They're familiar with Buffalo's play style. They know what it takes to stand up to the Sabres. Having said that, the onus remains on the Red Wings to actually make the playoffs. Every game in their minds should be a game seven finale. The margin of error is razor thin.
Red Wings need to keep an eye on Flyers rookie
The Flyers recently assigned Michigan State forward Porter Martone to their NHL squad. Tonight's game will be his second in the NHL. The 19-year-old had an exceptional season with MSU, putting up 50 points in 35 games. Tonight, he'll be looking to secure his first NHL point.
If the Red Wings hope to stand a chance against the Flyers, they need to take Martone just as seriously as they take the rest of the roster. The Red Wings played too passively against Ottawa Senators rookie Carter Yakemchuk, allowing the debuting rookie to earn his first multi-point game of his career.
Tonight's game will hinge entirely on how the Red Wings respond to their recent stretch. They need to prove they can thrive in adversity. If they don't, the season is as good as gone.