WGD: Game 45, FLYERS @ RED WINGS

What’s up WingsNation! Our first Game Day Blog was brought to you by our Managing Editor Jeffler, but I’ll be taking the reins for the remaining 38 regular season games. Some of you might know me from Dailyfaceoff.com, where I try to restrain myself from gushing about the Red Wings on a daily basis. I’m a long time Red Wings fan and pumped to be here! But, that’s enough about me, let’s dive into some Red Wings. After a successful six-game road trip (5-1-0), the Red Wings finally return back to Joe Louis Arena, where they will meet the Philadelphia Flyers for the first of their two meetings this season.

Detroit Red Wings lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff

The Wings will get Teemu Pulkkinen back in the lineup after he missed the last 18 games with a separated shoulder. With Pulkkinen back, Joakim Andersson will head back to the press box, a place he’s become rather familiar with this season. The rest of the lineup is expected to look exactly the same as it did in Thursday’s thrilling come from behind overtime win. 

Flyers Lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff

Forget Claude Giroux, the Red Wings are going to need to keep a close eye on the Flyers’ second line tonight. Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn have been on fire as of late—Couturier has four goals and five assists in his last eight games, while Schenn is right behind with seven points (3G / 4A) over that span. 

The Flyers should be a tired team after playing a tough one against the Rangers yesterday and then travelling  from Philly to The D. 

The Red Wings have already confirmed that Petr Mrazek will be back between the pipes tonight. It will be Mrazek’s seventh start in eight games and he comes in riding a five game winning streak, where we’ve seen him post a stellar 1.39 goals against average and .954 save percentage. The 23-year-old netminder brings with him a 6-4-3 record at Joe Louis Arena. 

With Steve Mason getting the call on Saturday, all signs point towards Michal Neuvirth starting for the Flyers. Neuvirth has had a great season as the Flyers’ No. 2 goaltending option. The 27-year-old has gone 9-5-2 with a 2.12 GAA and .934 SV%, but he has been much better on home ice than on the road—he is 3-4-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .928 SV% in cities not named Philadelphia. 

I’m giving the edge to Mrazek and the Red Wings in this one. 

Reports out of Philadelphia on Friday were that they had upgraded their D by adding 6-foot-5, 289 lbs. J.J. Watt. The 26-year-old did not play on Saturday and probably won’t be in the lineup until he finds a new jersey number. Come on J.J, 99!? Really? You know you can’t do that.

Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m ET at Joe Louis Arena. You can watch it on the NBC Sports Network or catch it on the Radio with WXYT-FM 97.1 The Ticket. 

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