Red Wings Recall Soderblom Ahead of Crucial Flyers Matchup

PHILADELPHIA — The Detroit Red Wings are set to face the Philadelphia Flyers in a pivotal Eastern Conference clash at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night. The game marks the final meeting of the season between the two teams, with both vying for playoff positioning in their respective divisions.

The Red Wings (21-21-4; 46 points) are looking to rebound after a tough weekend that saw them drop back-to-back games, including a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday. Head coach Todd McLellan emphasized the importance of continuous improvement, stating, “I’m watching video to make sure that the team is trying to get better night after night. That’s the only way we’re going to get wins.”

Detroit will welcome forward Elmer Soderblom back to the lineup after recalling him from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Soderblom, who has 17 points in 38 games with the Griffins this season, is expected to play on a line with Michael Rasmussen and Christian Fischer. McLellan praised Soderblom’s recent performance, saying, “He’s earned the right to come up here. The last two to three weeks, he’s really started to come into his own.”

Soderblom expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, “It’s very, very fun to hear that you’re getting called up. I’m just excited to play.”

The Flyers (21-20-6; 48 points), meanwhile, enter the game on a strong note, having gone 4-0-1 in their last five contests. Forward Travis Konecny leads the team with 54 points this season, while rookie Matvei Michkov has impressed with 14 goals. Head coach John Tortorella has drawn praise from McLellan, who said, “He’s done an outstanding job here. There’s a lot of accountability in that team.”

With both teams separated by just two points in the standings, Tuesday’s matchup carries significant playoff implications. The Red Wings are currently seventh in the Atlantic Division, five points out of a Wild Card spot, while the Flyers sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind the final playoff berth.

The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).