The Philadelphia Flyers started up their 11th set of back-to-back games this season Saturday night with a huge game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Dan Vladar got the start in net, and there were no changes to the lineup. Owen Tippett collected four points and helped lead the Flyers to a five-to-three win. The Red Wings had a late rally and nearly came all the way back, but Vladar closed the door to secure the two points. The orange and black improved to 36-24-12 on the season.
Tippett gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at the 4:07 mark of the first period. Moritz Seider turned the puck over to Trevor Zegras. Zegras then made a pass up the ice to send Tippett on a breakaway. Tippett finished with a wrist shot through the legs of Red Wings goaltender John Gibson. Zegras received the lone assist.
The Red Wings got the game’s first power play at the 7:12 mark of the second period as Jamie Drysdale was called for interference. Vladar ended up making a huge save on Patrick Kane, and the Flyers did their job of clearing the puck down the ice.
The Flyers went up 2-0 at the 12:22 mark of the second courtesy of Tippett. He took a dropback pass from Denver Barkey and put a wrist shot through the legs of Gibson from the low slot. Barkey and Drysdale tallied assists.
Dylan Larkin got called for high-sticking at the 15:48 mark of the second, which gave the Flyers their first power play. They’d capitalize thanks to Noah Cates. Gibson made the initial save on Travis Konecny with his pad. Matvei Michkov touched the puck before the save. Cates then jabbed away at the puck, and it ultimately crossed the goal line. 3-0 Flyers. Michkov and Konecny picked up assists.
Emil Andrae was called for tripping at the 18:19 mark of the second period. This gave the Red Wings their second power play. They had a goal, but it was overturned due to Alex DeBrincat being offside. Travis Sanheim had a big shot block, and the Flyers were able to clear the puck down a few times.
The Flyers went on their second power play at the 6:05 mark of the third period as Mason Appleton got called for roughing. Tippett scored his third goal of the game to give the Flyers a 4-0 lead. He took a pass from Drysdale, used his speed to get around Ben Chiarot, and finished with a snapshot over the glove of Gibson. Assists went to Drysdale and Konecny.
Gibson was pulled after the Flyers fourth goal. He allowed four goals on 21 shots. Cam Talbot replaced him.
Michkov and Marco Kasper were both called for roughing at the 8:21 mark of the third. This made the game go to four-on-four. Both teams had chances in their respective offensive zones, but the goaltenders had all the answers.
David Perron picked up a 10-minute misconduct at the 11:49 mark of the third period. This ended his game for the night, as there were fewer than 10 minutes to go in the game.
The Red Wings got on the board at the 13:43 mark of the third thanks to Appleton. Justin Faulk sent a pass that went off the boards and bounced out straight to Appleton. He then put a snapshot under the glove of Vladar. Faulk was given the only assist.
DeBrincat got the Red Wings within two at the 15:10 mark of the third period. He took a pass from Kane and put a wrist shot over the blocker of Vladar from the right circle. Kane and Seider tallied assists. 4-2 Flyers.
Talbot was pulled with 4:36 remaining in the third in favor of the extra attacker with the Red Wings down by two. It paid off as Lucas Raymond made it 4-3. He took a pass from Seider and put a snapshot past the glove of Vladar from the left circle. Vladar was heavily screened in front. Seider and Kane picked up assists.
The Red Wings pulled Talbot for a second time with 3:33 remaining in the third period. It backfired this time as Sean Couturier scored an empty-netter at the 17:56 mark. Tippett collected a loose puck and passed to Couturier. Couturier then put a wrist shot into the empty net from center ice. 5-3 Flyers. Tippett received the lone assist.
Talbot was pulled one last time with 1:43 remaining in the third. However, they couldn’t get any more pucks past Vladar. The Flyers held on for the five-to-three victory.
Flyers went two for two on the power play and killed off both of the Red Wings’ man advantages.
Vladar saved 32 of 35 shots, giving him a .914 save percentage.
Goal Summary
1st Period:
Tippett (25) Assists: Zegras (36)
2nd Period:
Tippett (26) Assists: Barkey (9), Drysdale (21)
Cates (17) (Power Play) Assists: Michkov (23), Konecny (36)
3rd Period:
Tippett (27) (Power Play) Assists: Drysdale (22), Konecny (37)
Appleton (6) Assists: Faulk (23)
DeBrincat (37) Assists: Kane (32), Seider (43)
Raymond (24) Assists: Seider (44), Kane (33)
Couturier (10) (Empty Net) Assists: Tippett (21)
Flyers Next Game
Flyers next game is Sunday, Mar. 29, in Philadelphia against the Dallas Stars.
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