Flyers lose tough back and forth battle with Red Wings

The Philadelphia Flyers have yet another set of back-to-back games this week. The first game was against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night. The Flyers took a loss but battled hard all game long. They now are back at hockey .500 at 14-14-4 through 32 games.

Travis Konecny gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead just 1:06 into the first period. It was their first shot on net in the game. Sean Couturier forced a turnover and passed the puck to Joel Farabee who then passed through his legs to Konecny. Konecny then went five-hole on Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon. Farabee and Couturier tallied assists.

The Red Wings got the game's first power play at the 12:16 mark of the first period as Travis Sanheim got called for holding. They didn't capitalize on the opportunity and Flyers goaltender Sam Ersson had to come up big at the end.

Owen Tippett took a double-minor high-sticking penalty at the 15:42 mark of the first period to give the Red Wings their second and third power play of the game.

The Red Wings capitalized on the second penalty as J.T. Compher tipped in Dylan Larkin's shot from the right circle. This tied the game up at one at the 18:19 mark of the first period. Larkin and Raymond collected assists.

Alex DeBrincat gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead at the 10:15 mark of the second period on a three-on-one rush. Cam York turned the puck over to Patrick Kane who then set up DeBrincat with a cross-ice pass. Kane received the lonely assist.

The Flyers responded 25 seconds later (10:40) as Noah Cates tied the game up at two. Tyson Foerster's wrist shot went off of Cates' shin and past Lyon. Foerster and Seeler received assists.

The Red Wings took the lead back at the 16:05 mark of the second period. Michael Rasmussen made it 3-2 Red WIns off the face-off. Compher won the face-off back to him and his wrist shot went under the glove of Ersson. Compher was given the only assist.

Joe Veleno gave the Red Wings a 4-2 lead at the 17:27 mark of the second period. Foerster and Scott Laughton collided which gave Detroit a two on zero. Christian Fischer set him up with a pass and Veleno's snap-shot beat Ersson stick side. Fischer tallied the lonely assist.

Ryan Poehling got the Flyers back within one at the 3:50 mark of the third period as he tipped in Couturier's pass. Couturier protected the puck well enough to set Poehling up. This made the score 4-3 Red Wings. Couturier and Sanheim collected assists.

The Flyers tied the game up at four at the 5:39 mark of the third period. Tippett deked around a Red Wings defenseman and put the puck past the left skate of Lyon. A great pass by Laughton set him up. Laughton and Drysdale were given assists.

Kane unbroke the tie and gave the Red Wings a 5-4 lead at the 7:21 mark of the third period on the breakaway. Moritz Seider saw him ahead of the play and made a great pass to him to center ice. Kane'e shot went under the blocker of Ersson. Seider collected the lonely assist.

The Flyers got their first and only power play at the 12:09 mark of the third period as Kane got galled for hooking. They got a few good shots on net but Lyon had all of the answers.

Lucas Raymond put the game away at the 18:48 mark of the third period with an empty-net goal. Sanheim turned the puck over at the blueline which set Raymond free alone in on the empty net. Larkin received the only assist. The Red Wings would win 6-4.

The Flyers went 0 for 1 on the power play and 2 for 3 on the penalty kill.

Ersson has struggled since coming back from injury. He saved 18 of 23 shots, giving him a .783 save percentage.

Goal Summary

1st Period:

Konecny (16) Assists: Farabee (8), Couturier (10)

Compher (4) (Power Play) Assists: Larkin (13), Raymond (20)

2nd Period

DeBrincat (13) Assists: Kane (9)

Cates (3) Assists: Foerster (5), Seeler (9)

Rasmussen (6) Assists: Compher (12)

Veleno (2) Assists: Fischer (3)

3rd Period:

Poehling (2) Assists: Coutuier (11), Sanheim (14)

Tippett (10) Assists: Laughton (8), Drysdale (4)

Kane (4) Assists: Seider

Raymond (13) (Empty Net) Assists: Larkin (14)

Flyers Next Game

Flyers next game is Thursday, Dec 19. in Philadelphia against the Los Angeles Kings.