If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be a Buffalo Sabres fan for a night then you’re in luck, today’s your day. As the Philadelphia Flyers stay focused on controlling their own destiny fans can still hope for a little help from the hockey gods. Currently the Blue Jackets are the biggest threat to the Flyers and it would be great to see Columbus sail off into the sunset.
Tonight the Sabres take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in Buffalo. As it stands this morning Columbus (90 pts) is just two points behind the Flyers (92 pts) in the Metropolitan Division standings. Obviously the best outcome tonight would be Philly beating Detroit and Columbus falling to Buffalo that would put a four point gap between the Flyers and Jackets for 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division with just three games remaining on the schedule.
Also tonight the Islanders (89 pts) play the Leafs. The Islanders are currently in a three way tie with the Red Wings and Capitals, Looking sideways at the wildcard race, just in case the Flyers end up back on that path, it would also be nice if the Panthers beat the Senators (92 pts).
It’s a busy night in the NHL but the most important match-up of the night is this one right here.
Flyers vs Red Wings
This is the third and final match-up between Philly and Detroit this season, all three games taking place over the last couple weeks. The series is tied at one with each team losing on home ice. The rubber match will be played tonight in Detroit.
The Red Wings have really been of little help to the Flyers in their fight for a post season slot. The Wings beat the Flyers on April 2nd and then lost every game since. Most recently allowing the Blue Jackets to come from behind and win in the shootout on Tuesday night.
With 89 points Detroit is just 3 points out of that coveted final wildcard spot in the East. The Boston Bruins pretty much have a lock on the number one wild card spot with 96 points and Montreal sitting firmly in the top 3 in the Atlantic Division.
Who to watch
Alex DeBrincat will be looking for his 40th goal of the season. Lucas Raymond has hit the 25 goal mark while notching 48 assists. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin currently has 31 goals on the season. Also on the roster are Patrick Kane and our old friend James van Riemsdyk.
Everyone’s power-play is more productive than the Flyers. Literally everyone’s. The Red Wings power-play is currently ranked at #12 in the NHL. Detroit went 1-for-2 with the man advantage in the last match-up. The Flyers went 2-for-2 in the first game. In both contests the team that produced on the power-play ended up winning the game.
Flyers Against all Odds
They said it couldn’t be done yet here they are in serious playoff contention with just four games remaining on the regular season schedule.
Things were looking pretty beak for the Flyers coming into February. Since the Olympic break they have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL with a record of 15-5-1.
They kept their focus on winning one game at a time and not being distracted by the things that were beyond their control. Their hard work has paid off but the fight is not over. The division and wild card races could not be any closer. The competition is fierce and the margins are razor thin.
The Flyers are currently holding onto the #3 spot in the Metro division which is good enough to qualify for a trip to the post season. It’s going to take all they got to hang on, they can’t take their foot off the gas for a second. It’s go time.
Offense
The Flyers got a big boost to their offensive game recently with the addition of 1st round pick Porter Martone when his season ended at Michigan State. The 6′-3″ power forward has 1 goal, 3 assists, and 22 shots on goal in 5 games played with the Flyers.
Tyson Foerster returned after being out due to injury since the beginning of December the same night as Martone’s debut. Those are two huge additions down the stretch.
Tuesday night when the Flyers defeated the Devils Trevor Zegras scored two goals in just under two minutes in the 1st period. Tyson Foerster scored two goals in just over two minutes in the second.
Travis Konecny is the Flyers point leader with 27 goals and 39 assists. Owen Tippett leads the Flyers in goals with 28. Tippett played some monster hockey during the month of March and was a big key to the Flyers success. He’s due.
New Jersey’s Olympic hero Jack Hughes has been the NHL’s top scorer since the break. They Flyers defense held him without a point on Tuesday night.
Goaltending
Too early to say who will be between the pipes tonight for the the Orange and Black but both Dan Vladar and Samuel Ersson have been hot as of late. Vladar has allowed only 3 goals over his last three starts. Ersson has won 4 out of his last 5.
Flyers Red Wings in Detroit tonight 7PM.
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