Everything you need to know ahead of tonight's Red Wings-Flyers game at Little Caesars Arena
Tonight, the Detroit Red Wings will look to get back to their winning ways on home ice against the Philadelphia Flyers. Here's what you need to know ahead of tonight's game.
Lineup Notes: Compher Poised to Play; Kane, Chiarot Still Absent, DeBrincat-Larkin-Raymond Sticks Together
The Red Wings held an optional skate this morning in anticipation of tonight's game. The good news for Detroit is that J.T. Compher—who did not practice yesterday while suffering from flu-like symptoms—was on the ice and a full participant, suggesting he will be back in the lineup tonight.
Patrick Kane also took part in that skate, but he will not play tonight, instead remaining in a "gray area," where it is possible but uncertain he appears before the All-Star break and the Red Wings' bye week (Detroit's last game before that break will be a week from yesterday, when the Red Wings take on the Ottawa Senators). Ben Chiarot did not skate this morning, and he now finds himself in a similar place to Kane—a possibility before the break a near certainty for after it.
Based on yesterday's practice, Derek Lalonde will reunite the trio of Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond, who began the season on a line together and enjoyed great success in the campaign's early days. That unit finished Tuesday's loss to the Dallas Stars together and found a decent offensive rhythm in an admittedly small sample size.
The Flyers' Heavy Game Requires Clean Exits from Detroit
The Red Wings have seen Philadelphia twice this season in two games that took on polar opposite character. In Philadelphia, the Flyers grabbed a 1-0 victory on December 16th, smothering Detroit with a physical, stingy defensive effort. A week later in Detroit, the Red Wings took a chaotic 7-6 shootout decision, having led 5-1 after the first period only to trail 6-5 late in the third.
To beat Philadelphia, Detroit knows it must deliver a cleaner performance when it comes to breaking the puck out than it did Tuesday against Dallas. When asked about the importance of exiting the defensive zone cleanly against the hard forechecking Flyers, Derek Lalonde said Thursday morning, that doing so will be a "Big part of the game.
"I think that's a big part of our success when we're getting out of the zone, winning those wall battles. We constantly talk about it. Especially early, not allowing a team to establish the forecheck. And a team like that whose huge identity is the forecheck, it'll be a big part of the game."
He added that Philly—who began the year among the favorites to wind up with the first overall pick—have managed to exceed expectations because of their depth, saying, "they're staying where they're at because of the depth of their forward group."
They might not have a point-a-game scorer, but the Flyers (currently 25-17-6, third in the Atlantic Division) have played their way into a playoff position because of their collective defensive and forechecking prowess.
Where to Watch
Tonight's game (a 7 PM start) will be on its usual television home of Bally Sports Detroit. Out of market fans will also have their familiar viewing options: ESPN+ and Hulu.
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