Detroit Red Wings flop at home against another playoff hopeful
Detroit Red Wings score: Three goals in the third period were too little, too late as Wings blow chance vs Flyers to gain ground in NHL playoff chase.
For the second time in less than a week, the Detroit Red Wings snoozed through much of a vital game. The Philadelpha Flyers – who the Wings play twice more in their final nine games - pushed around the home team through two-plus periods on Saturday, March 28 at Little Caesars Arena. The Wings made it interesting – but not enough to overcome how long it took them to get going, and they came out on the short end of a 5-3 final.
The loss was the third in regulation in the last four games for the Wings (39-26-8, 86 points). The Flyers are two points behind. A furious spurt saw the Wings rack up goals from Mason Appleton (his first in 32 games), Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond inside three minutes, but Sean Couturier's empty-net goal with two minutes and change to play doused the Wings' hopes of rallying.
The loss came four days after a subpar effort left the Wings grumbling about a loss to the Ottawa Senators, another team within striking distance of a wild card. It also came a day after the Wings showed how much better they can play after going into Buffalo and defeating the Atlantic Division-leading Sabres. CUT TO THE CHASE: Win vs Sabres shows key to Red Wings hopes: Swagger, consistency Detroit Red Wings playoff picture Again the Wings failed to take advantage on a day they received a modicum of help, as both the Senators (86 points, 9 games left) and Columbus Blue Jackets (87 points, 9 games left, second wild-card berth) lost.
On the flip side, victories were celebrated by the Boston Bruins (90 points, 9 games left, first wild-card berth) and the New York Islanders (89 points, 8 games left). The Montreal Canadiens (92 points, 10 games left) also won to further securing their positioning inside the top three in the Atlantic. John Gibson strings another tune John Gibson started his 11th straight game and, for the first time this season, started in back-to-back games, having made 28 saves in Friday's 5-2 victory in Buffalo, New York.