Preview: Flyers Can Secure Season Series in Detroit

The Philadelphia Flyers (14-13-4) visit the Detroit Red Wings (12-14-4) at 7:00pm/ET on TNT.

Currently, the Flyers are fifth in the Metropolitan Division, a couple of points removed from the Eastern Conference Wildcard, and ranked 21st in the NHL. The Red Wings are sixth in the Atlantic Division, six points removed from the Eastern Conference Wildcard, and ranked 26th in the NHL.

These clubs will face off three times in 2024-2025. Head-to-head, Philadelphia leads the season series (1-0-0). Scott Laughton scored every goal in a 4-1 win versus Detroit at the Wells Fargo Center.

“I can bump him [Laughton] up, too. I just like the way the lines have looked for the last little while. [I] haven’t had to do that. If things aren’t going well, even six-on-five [or] five-on-six, I can use him in a lot of different spots. He’s an important guy. The thing that was nice for him the other night; he gets rewarded for all the shit that he does for this team. He gets rewarded with four goals. That’s just good for the group.” – John Tortorella; 12/18/2024

Effectively, the oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook rule this clash between the Flyers (-108) and the Red Wings (-112) a toss-up. Philadelphia ranks 14th on the penalty kill (80.2%), 13th in faceoff percentage (51.7%, and 20th in goals scored per game (2.9). Detroit has the edge on the powerplay (24.4%) and goals against per game (3.13). The visitors could take the Little Caesars Arena.

When: 7:00pm/ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena; Detroit, MI
Broadcast Info: TNT/Flyers Radio 24/7
Last Game PHI: 12/14; 4-1 L; at Minnesota Wild
Last Game DET: 12/14; 4-2 W; vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Philadelphia Flyers

Sam Ersson will start. He occupied the crease in a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Ersson is struggling as of late. He has not managed a 90%SV in his last three starts. However, his record over his previous five starts does not represent his struggle. Over his last five starts, Ersson is 2-2-1 with an 87.3%SV and a 3.2GAA. Alexei Kolosov, who earned the win versus the Red Wings, will back up Ersson.

Egor Zamula (-12, 30BLK, 6HIT, 6TK, 16GV, 52.1FF%) remains in the lineup. Emil Andrae remains a healthy scratch.

Since assuming his role in the lineup while Andrae watches, Zamula averages 18:11 of ice time. Arguably, Zamula is one of the better defensemen on the ice, dating back to when the Flyers defeated the Red Wings. Andrae will return to the lineup soon, but Zamula at least proved he can step in as a reliable seventh defenseman. He will feature on the second powerplay unit with Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, and Joel Farabee.

Matvei Michkov (11G, 16A) can become the fourth player in franchise history with at least 30 points in 30 games with a three-point performance. He would be among Eric Lindros, Brian Propp, and Dick Sarrazin.

Michkov is on a two-game point drought. While true, he still tallied five points (2G, 3A) in his last five games. Cam Talbot robbed Michkov a few times when Detroit visited Philadelphia. Tonight, Michkov could respond with a few points on the stat sheet. He will feature on the first powerplay unit with Jamie Drysdale, Sean Couturier, Bobby Brink, and Travis Konecny.

Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers

#86 Joel Farabee – #14 Sean Couturier – #11 Travis Konecny
#74 Owen Tippett – #48 Morgan Frost – #39 Matvei Michkov
#71 Tyson Foerster – #27 Noah Cates – #10 Bobby Brink
#21 Scott Laughton – #25 Ryan Poehling – #19 Garnet Hathaway

#8 Cam York – #6 Travis Sanheim
#5 Egor Zamula – #55 Rasmus Ristolainen
#24 Nick Seeler – #9 Jamie Drysdale

#33 Sam Ersson
(#35 Aleksei Kolosov)

Projected Lineup: Detroit Red Wings

#11 Vladimir Tarasenko – #71 Dylan Larkin – #23 Lucas Raymond
#93 Alex DeBrincat – #18 Andrew Copp – #88 Patrick Kane
#27 Michael Rasmussen – #37 JT Compher – #14 Tyler Motte
#90 Joe Veleno – #92 Marco Kasper – #36 Christian Fischer

#77 Simon Edvinsson – #53 Moritz Seider
#8 Ben Chiarot – #46 Jeff Petry
#56 Erik Gustafsson – #3 Justin Holl

#34 Alex Lyon
(#35 Ville Husso)