Flyers vs. Red Wings: Key Things to Watch in Thursday’s Game
The Philadelphia Flyers will face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday evening at Wells Fargo Center. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia and 97.5 The Fanatic. This is the first of three meetings between the teams this season.
Here's a breakdown of key things to watch in the game:
1. Travis Konecny's Hot Streak
- Konecny’s impressive form: The Flyers' leading scorer, Travis Konecny, is having his best season ever, with 15 goals and 19 assists in 29 games.
- Recent performance: Konecny has been on fire, earning at least one point in 16 of the last 18 games. He scored two goals in Tuesday's 5-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets and has 24 points in his last 18 games.
- What to watch: Konecny will aim to extend his point streak to 17 out of 19 games when the Flyers play Detroit.
2. Owen Tippett’s Goal Scoring
- Tippett’s recent success: Owen Tippett has been scoring consistently, with 5 goals in his last 5 games.
- Line chemistry: Tippett, Morgan Frost, and Matvei Michkov are working well together, as shown by their combined success in recent games. Tippett has 6 points (5 goals, 1 assist) in the past 8 games.
- Key stat: Michkov, the Flyers' rookie sensation, has 27 points in 27 games and is currently a Calder Trophy candidate.
3. Special Teams Update
- Power Play Progress: The Flyers’ power play is improving. They've scored 3 power-play goals in their last 11 attempts this month. Still, their overall power-play efficiency is 17.4%, ranking 25th in the league.
- Penalty Kill Struggles: After starting the season with a strong penalty kill, the Flyers have been allowing more goals while shorthanded. Their penalty kill has dropped to 16th in the league (79.8%) after recent struggles.
- What to watch: The Flyers will need to improve their penalty kill and keep building on their power-play success to stay competitive.
4. Closing Out Games
- Leads in recent games: The Flyers have been better at holding leads, but they’ve struggled to close out games in the third period. Even in their recent win against Columbus, they allowed two late goals.
- Importance of strong finishes: If the Flyers can establish a lead over Detroit, they'll need to tighten up their defense and avoid penalties in the final minutes.
5. Watch Out for Dylan Larkin
- Larkin’s role: Dylan Larkin is the Red Wings' top forward, leading the team in ice time and scoring with 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 28 games.
- Recent performance: Larkin has five assists in his last five games, but hasn't scored a goal in his last nine games. He’s also a strong faceoff player, winning 56.7% of his faceoffs this season.
- Defensive matchups: The Flyers will likely focus on limiting Larkin’s impact, especially with Sean Couturier’s line and Cam York and Travis Sanheim’s defense pairing out against him.
Game Overview
- Flyers record: 13-12-4
- Red Wings record: 11-13-4
- Where to watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic radio, Flyers Radio 24/7 online
This matchup promises to be an exciting one as both teams are coming off important wins and will look to build momentum. Be sure to tune in for a thrilling night of hockey at Wells Fargo Center!

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