Flyers vs Red Wings Expert Predictions & Picks
I'm taking the Philadelphia Flyers team total under 2.5 goals when they visit Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m. ET. I'm adding Alex DeBrincat over 3.5 shots on goal.
The Flyers are 0-5-3, the worst start in franchise history. They've scored 10 goals in 8 games and haven't topped 2 once. Yet the book is paying plus money for them to stay at 2 or fewer.
The other side of that is volume. Philadelphia gets outshot by almost 14 a night, and DeBrincat is Detroit's main shooter.
Key Stats
- Philadelphia has been held to 1 goal or fewer in 5 of 8 games
- Only 20.8 shots per game for the Flyers, the fewest in the NHL
- The Flyers' power play is 2 for 24 this season
- 13 shots on goal for DeBrincat in his last 2 games
Head to Head
Detroit has won the last 2 meetings, and the home team has won 9 of the last 11 in this series. Thursday is the first meeting this season.
Philadelphia Flyers Form
Philadelphia has lost 12 straight dating back to last season. Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to Seattle was the closest it has come, and Trevor Zegras scored both goals. Even on a good night, that's still 2.
The power play is converting at 8.3%, so there's no help there. The injuries make it worse. Travis Konecny, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Grebenkin are out, and Cam York is ruled out for Thursday. Dan Vladar is the projected starter at .875.
Detroit Red Wings Form
Detroit is 1-3-2 and on a three-game skid. The Red Wings aren't scoring at will either, with 2.33 goals per game. But they do get the puck to the net, averaging 31.8 shots per game.
DeBrincat is the man who takes most of them. He has 8 points and 24 shots in 6 games, and he had 2 goals and 6 shots in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to New Jersey. Marco Kasper, Mason Appleton and Simon Edvinsson are out.
The Red Wings' penalty kill is 66.7%, the one real risk for the under. But Philly's power play hasn't been able to punish anyone yet.