[7:08 PM] Red Wings @ Flyers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Detroit Red Wings (6-6-1)

@ Philadelphia Flyers (6-6-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Jimmy Howard (DET): Confirmed

Steve Mason (PHI): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Detroit Red Wings: (+130)

Philadelphia Flyers: (-150)

 

• The Detroit Red Wings let a two-goal lead slip through their fingers last week en route to yet another failed bid to end a near-20-year run of futility in the City of Brotherly Love. The Red Wings will look to snap a five-game winless skid overall (0-4-1) and 12-game regular-season losing streak in Philadelphia on Tuesday when they face the Flyers.

• Captain Henrik Zetterberg scored his first goal of the season last week versus Philadelphia and has two tallies and an assist in his last two contests before being held off the scoresheet against Edmonton. The 36-year-old Swede, who has recorded 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in 17 career encounters versus the Flyers, needs to provide offense on a team that is stuck in the neutral in that regard (2.62 goals per contest). Dylan Larkin, who also scored last week against Philadelphia, is tied with veteran Thomas Vanek and Darren Helm with four goals this season.

• While Philadelphia’s potent offense is pumping in goals at an NHL third-best 3.46 clip, the team’s longstanding issues in net have reared their ugly head as Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth have contributed to allowing a league second-worst 3.69 per contest. “There’s more to it than that,” said coach Dave Hakstol, who has seen Neuvirth (3.57 goals-against average, .859 save percentage) struggle to regain his form from last season’s career year and Mason (3.46, .878) sputter after guiding the Flyers on a second-half surge toward an improbable playoff berth in 2015-16. Mason, who owns a 12-2-2 career mark with four shutouts against Detroit, is expected to get the nod on Tuesday.

• Veteran RW Wayne Simmonds is tied for NHL’s top spot with four power-play goals for Philadelphia, which has 10 goals with the man advantage in the last seven games.

• Detroit G Jimmy Howard leads the league with a 1.12 goals-against average and .965 save percentage.

• The Flyers have outscored the Red Wings 52-23 during their 12-game regular-season winning streak in Philadelphia.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Detroit Red Wings 

Confidence: 5/10

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