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Most of you are aware that Hart isn’t available for Philadelphia but Ersson has very similar and respectable stats. 2.41 GAA and .909 SV%. Both goalies have 12 wins on the season. Detroit’s power play and goals for stands superior at 23% (compared to 14) and 3.49 (compared to 2.94) while Philly has the superior goals against stat at 2.85 (compared to 3.32). In other words, the stats are very close and Detroit will need to be sound defensively, disciplined and aggressive on the forecheck. Lyon (assuming his presence) will of course have to be what he’s been for the majority of the last stretch. Solid and able to make a big save when called on.
LaLonde’s take on the loss to Dallas was interesting. He insinuated that Dallas is a team that could go all the way, and that their physicality is something very different than the skill of Tampa Bay. The coach also talked a bit about the “checking line… of Rasmussen, Fischer and Copp. In answering a reporter, he counts on that line to be able to kill momentum from other team’s top players. The 2nd period vs. Dallas was described as having a few breakdowns and giveaways that were easily observed upon review and easy to address.
It will be interesting to see if Debrincat’s last game was the beginning of another “scoring cycle… for the right shot winger. Larkin is one goal off of 20, and Sprong continues to have moments that make it seem like he could have a breakout night in his future. Let me know your thoughts on what you think will happen in tonight’s game.