Alex DeBrincat scores a pair to give Detroit Red Wings win over Flyers
Detroit Red Wings score: Alex DeBrincat answered a goal in the 3rd period seconds later with one of his own to reach 39 this season in the Wings' win.
The Detroit Red Wings delivered a much better performance as they continued to try to gain a foothold inside the playoff picture cutoff. That was especially important on Thursday, April 2, because their opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers, are one of the teams battling the Wings for the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Two goals from Alex DeBrincat and three points from Patrick Kane gave the Wings what they needed: A 4-2 victory at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Wings (40-27-8) reached 88 points with seven games remaining. CAPTAIN'S LOG: Ailing Dylan Larkin: 'I've got to win way more battles' for Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings playoff picture The Wings benefitted when the Columbus Blue Jackets, who held the second wild-card spot going into the night, lost to stay at 88 points with six games remaining. But Detroit's victory wasn't enough to move above the cutoff, because the Ottawa Senators defeated the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres to also reach 88 points (seven games left), with the Senators holding the tiebreaker – 33 regulation victories to 29 for the Wings.
Empowered The Wings showed they can start games with energy, which has been a key issue especially of late. They went on a power play six minutes in, and converted during their second one. With Sean Couturier in the box for tripping Dylan Larkin, Kane showed off his sublime skills, taking a pass from Seider and holding onto the puck until eyeing an open lane to DeBrincat, who was ready to rip the puck behind goalie Samuel Ersson, at 18:48 of the first period.
Pulling ahead DeBrincat provied a lead late in the first period, but Tyson Foerster scored 31 seconds into the second period to even the score. Lucas Raymond restored Detroit's lead late in the second period when Simon Edvinsson maneuvered the puck around Philly's zone and sent the puck out front, where it bounced over to Raymond. Kane added a goal to his earlier assist when he scored short-side midway through the third period, which began with the Flyers running up a 12-1 edge in shots.
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