Of brief Wings-related note on a day in which neither the Red Wings nor the Philadelphia Flyers practiced:
1. The Red Wings posted their weekly “The Forecheck” video, and Carley Johnston and Manny Legace discuss the Wings’ three upcoming opponents (Philadelphia, Washington and Toronto) this week:
On Tuesday night, [Petr] Mrazek will make his first trip back to Detroit since the trade when the Flyers (37-25-11, 85 points) take on the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m. face off).
Philadelphia currently sits third in the Metropolitan Division and appears to be destined to make the playoffs as one of the top three teams in their division or as one of the two wild cards in the Eastern Conference.
The Flyers defeated the Washington Capitals, 6-3, on Sunday with Mrazek in goal. It was his fifth victory as a member of the Flyers, which is significant because if the Flyers make the playoffs, coupled with Mrazek’s fifth victory, it gives Detroit a third-round pick in 2018 NHL draft instead of a fourth-round pick.
If Philadelphia makes it to the Eastern Conference final and Mrazek wins six playoffs games, the third-round pick becomes a second rounder.
Since the trade, Mrazek has played in 11 games with the Flyers and has posted a 5-5-1 record, with a 3.14 goals-against average, a .888 save percentage and one shutout.
3. Both Tuesday and Thursday’s games are on NBCSN. NBC Sports’ weekly press release revealed the announcer lineups for both games.
Tuesday’s game is going to be a little weird as a Red Wings broadcaster and a Flyers broadcaster will combine to cover the game:
FLYERS-RED WINGS – TUESDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Red Wings (26-35-11, 63 pts) look to snap their 10-game losing streak on Tuesday. Larkin leads the team in both points (50) and assists (41).
Former Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek was traded to the Flyers on Feb. 19, and has won five games with Philadelphia since the trade, including the Flyers’ 6-3 win against Washington on Sunday.
Ken Daniels (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call Flyers-Red Wings from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
CAPITALS-RED WINGS – THURSDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Capitals (41-24-7, 89 pts) are 4-1-0 in their last five games and currently sit two points ahead of the Penguins for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Washington aims to rebound from a 6-3 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Ovechkin netted his 43rd goal of the season in the defeat.
This marks the third matchup between the Capitals and Red Wings this season, with each team winning once in overtime.
Daniels (play-by-play) and Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call Capitals-Red Wings from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
No Mickey Redmond, Chris Osgood or Darren Eliot until Saturday, when the Wings play Toronto (and half of you will be watching Hockey Night in Canada anyway).
Boucher is terrific at color commentary. I’m not sad that we’re getting him. He needs to join NBCSN’s “A” team and boot Pierre “Hey Eddie, I know where everyone went to college!” McGwire to the “B” squad.
Just scrap their whole A team, tbh
I hate it when NBC steals the games, now I have to wait 48 hours before I can watch the replay. I could understand it when the Wings in the playoff picture, but now it just seems like gloating.
No Mickey, that’s a win for all of us.
He is very hard to understand sometimes. I honestly hear only half what hes speedily trying to spit out, so I have mostly quit trying to understand…..