The Detroit Red Wings hosted the only team in the Eastern Conference that has struggled even more than they have in the opening weeks of the season.
The Philadelphia Flyers came into Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, Oct. 15 winless through eight games (0-5-3), and the Wings engaged in a performance that reflected two teams hovering at the bottom of the standings.
A late goal was enough to secure the Wings a 2-1 victory, nudging their record to 2-3-2.
There was 4:38 left in regulation when Andrew Copp celebrated his first goal of the season, finishing Michael Rasmussen's work with the puck around the net with a quick tap-in from the other side of the paint. That was Rasmussen's first point since Jan. 5, 2026, a stretch of 32 games.
Lucas Raymond drew his third penalty of the game with 1:29 to play, delaying the Flyers' attempts to pull their goaltender.
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Who played
Marco Kasper, J.T. Compher and Mason Appleton remained sidelined by injuries, and Carter Mazur was a healthy scratch as the Wings went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the fifth time this season. Up front, Nate Danielson subbed onto Dylan Larkin's line with Viktor Arvidsson, bumping Lucas Raymond to a spot with Copp and Rasmussen, though Raymond was back with Larkin and Arvidsson by the third period. Emmitt Finnie centered Alex DeBrincat and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and Keegan Kolesar, and Sheldon Dries saw spot duty.
On the back end, Moritz Seider paired with Ben Chiarot, Justin Faulk with Albert Johansson, Anton Johansson with Andreas Englund and Axel Sandin-Pellikka also played.
First strike
The Flyers became the fifth opponent to score first on the Wings when Matvei Michkov batted the puck out of the air and into the net from just outside the crease at 17:32 of an otherwise uneventful first period. Travis Sanheim's decision to knock over Raymond moments later led to a Wings power play, with 1:43 on the clock. Raymond set up Larkin near the end of the period, but Larkin flung a puck that hit a post and clanked back out.
Hugs and smiles
There were big hugs and smiles at 4:31 of the second period when Anton Johansson scored his first NHL goal, beating Joseph Woll with a one-timer. Larkin, who fired the pass, was among the first to embrace the young Swedish defenseman. Anton Johansson's seamless jump to the NHL has alleviated the absence of Simon Edvinsson, who is embroiled in a contract stalemate.
The Wings had another power play, their third of the night, late in the second period, but the best chance belonged to Noah Cates off a rush, one of two saves Daniil Tarasov made while his team was shorthanded in that final minute.
Next up for the Wings: Flying Sharks?
The Red Wings’ seven-in-eight-games homestand wraps up with a visit from the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, Oct. 17 (7 p.m., Detroit SportsNet). The secret to beating the Sharks (who played Thursday night in Nashville) this season (aside from punching them in the snout, eyes or gills)? Get it done in regulation time; San Jose won three of its first four games, with all of them coming in overtime. Also, look out for 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini; the 2024 No. 1 overall pick (who finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting in his second season) has eight points in his first four games.
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings find cure for ills in woeful Philadelphia Flyers