Recap; Game 75/82: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings

Twice now, the Philadelphia Flyers (37-26-12) have had the opportunity to close the gap on the pursuit of a postseason berth.

First, it was the road loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. On Thursday, a loss on home ice to the Detroit Red Wings (40-27-8), 4-2.

While the officiating was miserable, particularly Cody Beach, the Flyers had to overcome. It was clear during the first period that Philadelphia had to battle the officiating and the Red Wings. Detroit kept pushing, despite losing Justin Faulk to injury in the third period. Adversity wasn’t exclusive to one side.

This loss absolutely stings. Despite the loss, the Flyers lucked out around the league. They dropped the first result in a back-to-back, yet remain just three points out of an NHL Metropolitan Division playoff spot, and two points out of the NHL Eastern Conference Wildcard. The pressure is getting tighter, and the weight is getting heavier. Each game remaining on Philadelphia’s schedule tells a story of a team with its back against the ropes, where winning out must happen instead of lucking out.

The Red Wings were a team with a slight statistical edge over the Flyers before the puck dropped, despite the head-to-head record in the 2025-2026 NHL Regular Season. It was a tightly contested tilt. A lot can be said about what Philadelphia couldn’t control, but at the same time, there was too much left on the table regarding what could be controlled.

First Period

Shots on Goal: 7-7
Score: 1-0, Red Wings

I’m not sure if the Xfinity Mobile Arena was a sellout, but fans showed up for the Flyers. The ‘Let’s Go Flyers’ chants were audible, particularly as the action began in the first period. Then, everyone locked in when Luke Glendening had a short breakaway chance. John Gibson denied Glendening, and he remained in the zone throughout the game.

Both goaltenders showed a spark in the first period. Samuel Ersson dotted a pass deep into the neutral zone to Porter Martone, reminiscent of his work in overtime versus the Dallas Stars from Sunday.

Then, the officiating inserted themselves into the picture. In what was nothing more than a typical scrum by the net, Martone served a minor penalty for cross-checking. In a climate where you’re around league sources, unaffiliated with the teams playing, the things said under the breath about that call checked out. It was a soft call by Beach against Martone. However, Philadelphia held off Detroit on the penalty kill due to the effort from Glendening and Ersson.

On the ice, the intensity ramped up. Emil Andrae took a hit to advance the puck, then remained disruptive in the neutral zone. Martone jumped into fourth gear throughout the rest of regulation, peppering Gibson every step of the way. The Flyers were the better team at five-on-five, but the Red Wings still threatened. Patrick Kane put Rasmus Ristolainen in the spin cycle, and he’s the last opposing forward Philadelphia wants to see on the attack.

When the numbers game favored the Flyers, Gibson made the stop. Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak jumped on a two-on-one rush, but Dvorak couldn’t convert the chance.

Cam York missed a handful of minutes, then returned. Andrae, skating with his head down, took a big hit from David Perron. Suddenly, Detroit was rallying on the ice.

Sean Couturier served a minor penalty for tripping. Alex DeBrincat wounded Philadelphia’s penalty kill, 1-0, with 1:11 remaining in the first period. He posted in the high slot, accepted the feed from Kane, and beat Ersson on a clean look. The Flyers finished 1/2 (50%) on the penalty kill.

Second Period

Shots on Goal: 19-15, Flyers
Score: 2-1, Red Wings

Tyson Foerster tied the game, 1-1, with 19:29 remaining in the second period. Owen Tippett seemingly fanned on a pass from Trevor Zegras, but it turned into a happy mistake when Foerster gathered the puck, placing an off-speed shot past Gibson.

Philadelphia began with extra zest. You could only assume that Rick Tocchet, during the first intermission, let them know about the uphill battle ahead of them after the first period. Nick Seeler continued with his routine, gutsy shot blocking madness, though he hobbled off to the bench. It never ceases to amaze me when NHL defensemen block a hard shot and don’t miss a beat, or at most one shift. On offense, Martone is as advertised, displaying every bit of hockey IQ touted by Tocchet in his pregame press conference.

Ersson and Gibson were in a goaltending duel throughout the second period. He denied Perron a solid shot on goal, then Gibson answered by sealing the post on a wrap-around attempt by York.

Lucas Raymond regained the lead for the Red Wings, 2-1, with 1:31 remaining in the second period. The late goals surrendered killed the Flyers. Ersson stepped up to anticipate a shot by JT Compher, who swung the puck to Raymond for the open angle.

Third Period

Shots on Goal: 34-19, Flyers
Score: 4-2, Red Wings

Justin Faulk left the game with a lower-body injury. If Philadelphia had an opportunity to strike back into this game, it would be in the third period while Detroit is down a defenseman.

Finally, the Flyers went on the power play when Raymond served a minor penalty for hooking. Ristolainen, Konecny, Martone, and Jamie Drysdale were credited with shots but were unable to convert. Philadelphia finished 0/1 (0%) on the power play.

One player I put under a microscope in the preview was Matvei Michkov. He had a disappointing game, but it’s not a reason to write him off. A lot of people overreacted. No player escapes fair criticism, and one issue that stood out significantly was the poor shot selection. Too often, Michkov was forcing the sharp angles instead of creating space in the high-danger areas.

Kane extended the lead, 3-1, with 10:23 remaining in the third period. On a two-on-one rush with DeBrincat, Kane elected to take the shot, beating Ersson.

Konecny put the Flyers within one goal, 3-2, with 9:31 remaining in the third period. Originally, the goal was waived off, then reviewed as a no-goal verdict. Tocchet challenged the call, and it was overturned to a good goal. Martone recorded his first NHL point with the primary assist. Furthermore, the officiating crew was wrong again, strengthening the narrative that Philadelphia had to battle them along with the Red Wings.

As soon as it seemed like the Flyers were back in the game, DeBrincat put the game back out of reach, 4-2, with 9:16 remaining in the third period. Travis Sanheim whiffed on the defensive zone clear attempt, and from there, Kane kept containment. He earned the secondary assist as DeBrincat scored from a near-impossible angle. The puck barely cleared the goal line.

Tocchet did pull Ersson for the six-on-five man-advantage, but Philadelphia couldn’t add to their total. Detroit took home the regulation road win at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Up Next

Next, the Philadelphia Flyers visit the New York Islanders on Friday at 7pm/ET.