Red Wings Eye Relief Against Winless Flyers
Detroit returns home with points up for grabs as Philadelphia hunts a first victory on the road.
Written before the game
Both teams need a reset, and the matchup tilts toward shot quality more than name recognition. The Red Wings have created more dangerous looks so far — their chances are worth about what an average night would turn into on the scoreboard — but they’ve also given nearly as much back. The Flyers have been chasing games; their chances have added up to less than they’ve allowed.
In numbers: Philadelphia’s average expected goals for — a measure of how many goals their chances are worth — sits at 2.33 against 3.77 against. Detroit comes in at 3.28 for and 3.56 against. In shot-attempt volume, the Flyers are underwater (about 45.6 for to 66.8 against), while the Red Wings are closer to even (62.5 to 58.2).
Standings matter here: the Flyers are 16th in the East at 0-5-3 (away 0-3-1), the Red Wings 15th at 1-3-2 (home 1-3-1). Alex DeBrincat’s finishing touch looms over a game where one bounce could separate two clubs trying to stop the slide.