(SportsNetwork.com) – The struggling Philadelphia Flyers will try to get their
offense on track Wednesday when they visit the Detroit Red Wings for a clash
at Joe Louis Arena.
The Flyers have lost five of their last six games, and were held to less than
four goals in each of those setbacks. Philadelphia has managed only six goals
over its past four tilts and four of those tallies came in Saturday’s win
against Columbus.
Philly was shut out for the second time in four games on Monday, losing a 1-0
shootout decision against the New York Islanders. Steve Mason was the main
reason the Flyers weren’t handed a regulation loss at Nassau Coliseum, as the
goaltender kept Philly in the game with a strong performance.
The Isles outshot the visitors by a 46-21 margin, but Mason stopped all 46
shots sent his way to record his first shutout of the season in a losing
effort.
“We had a good scout on them and knew what to expect,” said Mason. “They were
as good as advertised.”
New York was able to get to Mason in the shootout, scoring twice over the
three rounds. Frans Nielsen put the first puck past either goaltender with New
York’s second chance, as he buried a wrister past Mason. After Jaroslav Halak
turned aside an attempt by Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux, John Tavares then
sealed the victory as he went back and forth before lifting a backhand into
the right corner of the net.
The Flyers have lost five straight on the road and are just 2-6-1 as the guest
this season. Philadelphia’s last away win was back on Oct. 22, when it
recorded a 5-3 triumph in Pittsburgh.
Philly has done well against the Red Wings recently, winning three straight
and four of the past five meetings in this series. That includes a 4-2 home
win over Detroit on Oct. 25 when Ray Emery made 35 saves to anchor a Flyers’
victory.
The Flyers and Red Wings have split the last four encounters in the Motor
City. but Philadelphia has a dismal 2-15-1 record with two ties in the past 20
meetings at the Joe.
Detroit improved to 7-2-2 at home this season following Monday’s close victory
over the Ottawa Senators. Stephen Weiss keyed the victory with his best
performance in a Red Wings uniform, scoring a pair of goals to help the Red
Wings hold on for the 4-3 regulation win over the Sens.
The Red Wings had high hopes for Weiss when they signed him to a five-year,
$24.5 million deal in the summer of 2013, but things have not gone as planned.
The veteran centerman missed much of last season due to a sports hernia and
only recorded two goals and two assists in 26 games.
Monday’s game was only Weiss’ second tilt this season and first since Oct. 18.
He began 2014-15 as a healthy scratch and then suffered a groin injury in his
first game of the season.
After a recent conditioning stint in the AHL, however, Weiss was able to break
into the lineup on Monday when he doubled his career goal total with the
Wings.
“It felt good to be in the lineup and it was nice to get a couple of goals,”
said Weiss.
Gustav Nyquist and Riley Sheahan each had a goal for the Red Wings, while
Jimmy Howard stopped 23 shots in the win.
The Red Wings, who have won three of their last four games, could get Pavel
Datsyuk back on the ice tonight. The star forward has missed the last four
games and six of eight tilts overall due to a groin injury. Datsyuk did
practice on Tuesday and is questionable for tonight’s contest.
Detroit’s Brendan Smith is expected to miss a fourth straight game after
injuring his hand in last week’s fight with Nick Foligno of the Columbus Blue
Jackets.
